Experimental validation of a new method for optimizing miscible flooding of stratified reservoirs

摘要

Miscible displacement experiments were conducted in stratified model reservoirs that permitted visual observation of the flow processes. Concentrating on favorable mobility ratio displacements, the results are analyzed by a vertical equilibrium (VE) theory which includes gravity effects. The results show that the front shape, and hence the recovery, of gravity stable displacements can be predicted in agreement with experimental results. It is shown that channeling of the injection fluid into high permeability layers may be stabilized by viscous cross-flow, even during relatively high injection rates. Observation of unexpectedly large mixing zones are explained as viscous mixing caused by cross-flow between layers.