Investigation of Ultrasonic Waves’ Function in Improving Oil Production Capacity Using Water-Flooding Experiments

Document Type : Research - Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran

2 M.Sc, Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University Technology of MARA (UiTM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

One way to improve oil production capacity is to use ultrasonic waves. Series of straight and ultrasonic stimulated water–flooding experiments were conducted on a long unconsolidated sand-pack using ultrasonic transducers because of a limited understanding of the mechanisms involved in applying ultrasonic waves as an enhanced oil recovery method. Kerosene and vaseline were used as non-wet phases in the system with a viscosity of 0.99 and 22 cp, respectively. Moreover, fluid flow and temperature rise experiments were conducted using an ultrasonic bath to enhance contributing mechanisms. They were carried out to observe the effects of ultrasonic waves on oil recovery. As a result, the recovery of water-flooding increased by about 16%. Furthermore, three mechanisms of improving oil production capacity were recognized: emulsification, cavitation, and viscosity reduction. The changes in pressure and ultrasonic velocity were also simulated using Comsol software alongside the sand-pack. As a result of the function of ultrasonic waves, this study can help the contributing mechanisms for improving oil recovery.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Duhon, R. D., and Campbell, J. (1965). “The Effect of ultrasonic energy on the flow of fluids in porous media”. SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Charlston, USA, SPE-1316-MS: 1-16.
  2. Naderi, K., and Babadagli, T. (2008). “Effect of ultrasonic intensity and frequency on oil/heavy–oil recovery from different wettability rocks”. SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Calgary, Canada, SPE-117324-MS: 1-15.
  3. Hamida, T., and Babadagli, T. (2007). “Fluid–fluid interaction during miscible and immiscible displacement under ultrasonic waves”. European Physical Journal, 60: 447-462.
  4. Amro, M., Al–Mobarky, M., and Al–Homadhi, E. S. (2007). “Improved oil recovery by application of ultrasound waves to water–flooding”. SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show, Bahrain, SPE-105370-MS: 1-8.
  5. Najafi, I. (2010). “A mathematical analysis of the mechanism of ultrasonic induced fluid percolation in porous media”. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florance, Italy, SPE-141126-STU: 1-24.
  6. Hamidi, H., Rafati, R., Junin, R. B., and Manan, M. A. (2012). “A role of ultrasonic frequency and power on oil mobilization in underground petroleum reservoirs”. Journal of Petroleum Explorationand Production Technology, 2: 29-36.
  7. Poesio, P., Ooms, G., Schraven, A., and Bas, F. V. D. (2002). “Theoretical and experimental investigation of acoustic streaming in a porous material”. Physical Review E, 66: 1-9.
  8. Guo, X., Du, Z., Li, G., and Shu, Z. (2004). “High frequency vibration recovery enhancement technology in the heavy oil fields in China”. SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium and Western Regional Meeting, California, USA, SPE-86956-MS: 1-18.
  9. Nikolaevsky, V. N., and Stepanova G. S. (2005). “Non–linear seismics and the acoustic action on the oil recovery from oil pool”. Acoustical Physics, 51: 131-139.
  10. Mohsin, M., and Meribout, M. (2015). “An extended model for ultrasonic-based enhanced oil recovery with experimental validation”. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 23: 413-423.
  11. Ying-Xin, G., Ding, R., Chen, X., Gong, Z., Zhang, Y., and Yang, M. (2018). “Ultrasonic washing for oily sludge treatment in pilot scale”. Ultrasonics, 90: 1-4.
  12. Ghamartale, A., Escrochi, M., and Riazi, M. (2019). “Faghih An experimental investigation of ultrasonic treatment effectiveness on pore structure”. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 51: 305-314.
  13. Hamidi, H., Haddad, A. S., Mohammadian, E., and Rafati, R. (2017). “Azdarpour A., Ghahri P., Ombewa P., Neuert T., Zink A. Ultrasound-assisted CO2 flooding to improve oil recovery”. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 35(A): 243-250.
  14. Hamidi, H., Mohammadian, E., Junin, R., Rafati, R., Manan, A. M., Azdarpour, A., and Junid, M. (2014). “A technique for evaluating the oil/heavy-oil viscosity changes under ultrasound in a simulated porous edium”. Ultrasonics, 54: 655-662.
  15. Firoozabadi, A., and Ramey, H. J. (1988). “Surface tension of water hydrocarbon systems at reservoir conditions”. Journal of Canada Petroleum Technology, 27(3): 41-48.
  16. حقگو، م.، جعفری، آ.؛ 1396؛ "بررسی آزمایشگاهی تاثیر پارامترهای شکاف بربازده جاروب نفت حین تزریق نانوسیال". پژوهش نفت، دوره 94، شماره 27، ص 164-150.
  17. Agi, A., Junin, R., Syamsul, M. F., and Chong, A. S. (2019). “Gbadamosi A. Intermittent and short duration ultrasound in a simulated porous medium”. Petroleum, 5(1): 42-51.
  18. Avvaru, B., Venkateswaran, N., Uppara, P., Iyengar, S. B., and Katti, S. S. (2018). “Current knowledge and potential applications of cavitation technologies for the petroleum industry”. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 42: 493-507.
  19. Song, W. N., Dong, Y. L., Xue, L. M., Ding, H. X., Li, Z., and Zhou, G. J. (2012). “Hydrofluoric acid-based ultrasonic upgrading of oil shale and its structure characterization”. Oil Shale, 29: 334-343.
  20. عسکریان، م.، وطنی، ع.، عدالت، م.؛ 1396؛ "بهبود خواص نفت سنگین در سامانه کاویتاسیون هیدرودینامیک: اثر حضور منبع هیدروژنی و نانوذرات فلزی". پژوهش نفت، دوره 95، شماره 27، ص 17-4.
  21. Sayyaadi, H. (2015). “Enhanced cavitation–oxidation process of non-VOC aqueous solution using hydrodynamic cavitation reactor”. Chemical Engineering Journal, 272: 79-91.
  22. Mohammadian, E., Junin, R., Rahmani, O., and Idris, A. K. (2013). “Effects of sonication radiation on oil recovery by ultrasonic waves stimulated water–flooding”. Ultrasonics, 53(2): 607-614.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 20 September 2020
  • Revise Date: 12 June 2021
  • Accept Date: 24 August 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics