-s

SPE
SPE 20037
Phase Behavior Properties of COz/Heavy Oil Mixtures for
EOR Applications
S,(3, Sayegh, Petroleum

Recovery

Inst., and M, Sarbar, Esso Resources Canada

SPE Members

Copyright 1990, ScUWNyof Petroleum Er@neer8 Inc,

This papar W8S prepared for preeanlntlon et Ihe Wth California Regional Mwtlng held In Ventura, California, AN! 4-6

1~.

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are
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INTRODUC1ION

ABsTRAcr
The objectiveof this study is to measurethe
phasebehaviorand pnysicalproperties
of a Canadim
heavy crude oil (llOAPljsaturatedwith carbon
dioxideaa a functionof pressureand temperature.
These dats are used to evaluatethe feasibility
of
using carbon dioxideas a pretreatmentfor steam
floodsor as a steamadditive.
Experimentalmeasurementswere carriedout at
69,@F (21C),the reservoirtemperature,and at
284F(14@C). The saturation
pressures
werebetween
400 ,Jsi(2.8MPa) and 1,500psi (10.3MPa).At each
pressurelevelthe volubility
of CC+ in the oil, the
density,and the viscosityof the saturatedmixture
were measured,
The resultsshowedan increasein the volubility
of C% in the oil with increasingpressureand
decreasingtemperature,
while the densitiesof the
ml.xtures
did not change to a large extent with
changingcompositions, The most dramaticeffect
observedwas the decreaeein vlscoeitywith C
dissolution
in the oil: A 53-foldreductionoccure
%
at 69.80F (210C)and a 2-foldredu~tionat 2840F
(14CPC)
,

Conventionaluse of C02 for improvingoil

recovery has been mostly for miscible flood
applicationswhere the displacementof crude oil
from the pore space within the reservoirsis
achievedby the solventactionof CC+ whichprevents
formationof an interfacebetweenthe drivingand
the drivenfluid, The diapl.acement
processis very
effectiveand potentially
100% of the oil in place
couldbe recoveredfromthe sweptzone.
However,in heavyoii and biturnenous
reservoirs
suchmiscibility
cannotbe obtainedand it will not
be a factorin increasing
oil recovery.Rather,the
enhancementof oil recoverywill be the resultof
the high sdubility of C% in low API 8ravityoils
which~n turnwouldresultin:
(1)

A substantial
viscosityreduction-10-fold
or more can he easilyachieved.

(2)

swelling (10-30%)
Considerable oil
,
depending on the saturation pressu,
reservoirtemperature,
and the crude oils
composition.

(3)
SARA analysesof varioussampleawere carried
It waa found that at 69,@F (21C) some
out
redistribution
of asphaltenes
and resinsoccurredat
pressures
$ibovethe
liquefaction
presaureofC~ (850
pqi or 5.9 MPa).

Improved reservoir energy after C

?!
gas will come out o
treatmentsince C
? de a driving force to
solutionand prov
sweepthe oil out of the reservoir.

(4)

The loweringofInterracial
tensionbetween
the oil and the aqueousphases,

These results indicate that, frov a phase

behaviorpolntof view,enhanccdoil recovetybyC02
injectionin the heavy oil reservoiris fetiaible,
and thatviscosityreductionwouldplaya m~jorrole
in improvingproductivity
at lowertemperatures.
The
balance should be taken into
asphaltenes/resitls
accountwhen stilecting
the injectionpressure.

Also, due to the chemical reactionsbetween

carbonicacid (C~% + O mixture)and the carbonete
portions of t e reservoir rock, increased
permeabillties
can be obtainedby C$ injection.
This can be usedas a preconditioning
processprior
to steaminjectionto improvesteaminjectivity.

PKASEBEHAVIORPROPERTI~ OF C132/W~ OIL ~~~s

~R EOR @pLI~T~ONS

SPE 20037

temperaturerecordedin one of the teats

had a negative
was l,~F (-l~C). This
effecton the dispersion
and solubilization
of c~.

In order to realizethese beneficialeffects,

gas must be injectedinto the reservoirand
al owed to diffuseinto the oil it contacts. But
9
beforediffusioncan work as a practicalmeans of
treatinga largevolumeof oil, it is necessarythat
theinjectedgas effectively
penetratethe reservoir
and providea largearealcontact. The presenceof
a fracture network (dual porosity system) is
expectedto providelargeareal cont~ctneededfor
the dispersionprocessto be effective.

(c)

Phasebehavlourstudiescan be usedas screening

the effectiveness
of C(+ applito evaluste
cation for improvedrecovery. Phase behaviour
propertiesof variousC% heavycrude-oil~i&ures
have been determinedby severalresearchers . In
general,viscosityreductionvasan importantfactor
for all the systems,especiallywith heavieroils
and at l~wer temperatures. On the other hand,
swellingwas more pronouncedfor the lighteroils.
From thesegeneralremarksit may be concludedthat
C% has a good potentialas an enhancingagent to
improveheavyoil production.

Excessivesand productioncen hinderoil

production.
This can occurif the injected
C% is inefficiently
dispersedintothe oil
phase as a resultof, for example,high
injection rates. Consequently,a large
amountof the injectedgas is producedwhen
the

wells

are

put

on

production

and

can

carry reservoirssnd into the producing

well

tools

Some of theseproblemscan be aleviatedby, for

example, lowering the C02 injection rates,
controlling
the m
or polymers
, or deploying
an
bY foaming~gent~~ility
f C?2~~thinthe
formation
adequatebottomholesandcontrolling
devicesuchas
the one developedby TexacoCanadaResources20.
Based on this information,it was felt that
beneficial results may be obtained by C02
pretreatment
of reservoirs
priorto steaminjection.
Therefore,laboratory
measurements
wereconductedto
determine the phase behaviour and physical
propertiesof mixturesof a heavy crude oil with
Cq . The experimentalprocedureand resultsare
discussedin detailin the followingsections.

The C% stimulationprocess of heavy oil

reservoira
was alsoexaminedby numericalsimulation
to includethe effectof parameterssuch 8s gas/oil
properties
and criticalgas saturations7-13.
It may
be concludedfromthesestudiesthatthe processcan
be a successfulone providedthat certainfactors
are takenintoaccount.For example,n high initial
oil saturationand adequate reservoirdepth (or
pressure)
are desirablefeaturea.Aboutthreehuffn-puffcycleswere found to be adequatein one of
thesestudiesg.

Ex.PERm&PRmmE
The phase L?havior apparatus is shown
schematically
in Figure1. It consistsof two cells
with floatingpistons. One of thesecellshas two
windows for visual observationof the mixtures,
whilethe othercell has no wiri>ws. The cellsare
connectedfrom their basesthrougha gear pump for
circulating
and mixingthe fluids. The topsof the
cells are connected through two capillary
viscometers: The first has a large diameterfor
high viscosityfluids, while the second has a
smallerdiameterfor lower viscosityfluids. A
densitometeris also placed in line with the
viscometers.!lhe
wholeapparatusis enclosedin a
thermostated
o!m.

The effectiveness
of C% for enhancedheavyoil
recoveryhas also been field tested worldwide.
AshlandOil Canada Ltd. tried a single-wellC%
injectionintobottomwaterin theGrandForksLower
Mannville C Pool (Alberta) during 1977.
It
concludedthat the presenceof bottomwaterre uced
f A
huff-n-puffprocess.
the efficiencyof the C
!!on of North Balsa strip
C% huff-n-puffstimulat
leaae of HuntingtonBeach F eld (U.S.) has been
reportedby Patton et al.a~, PhillipsPetroleum
obtainedencouraging
resultsin itsc~l$est at Lick
CreekFieldof SouthernArkansas)U.S. 9 Improved
oil recoveryhas also been achievedin the two
southernItalian tieavyoil fields of Piropo and
~onte ~i,rillo2,14,
Repeatedly,successfulresults
have also beeu re r d in variousoil fields in
Hungarysince1969P~.

The firststep waa to calibratethe viacometer

and thedensitometer,The viscometer
was calibrated
usin~ glycerolas the referencefluid,while the
densitometerwaa calibratedusing nitrogen and
water, The calibrationswere done at both the
operatingtemperatures,v,i.z, 69,@F (21C)and
284F(14CfC)OThe next stepwas to carryout the
measurements
on oil/gasmixtures~t eachtemperature
followingthe proceduredescribedbelow,

The followingare some of the observations

and
recommendations
from the limitednumber of field
testeof the stimulation
of heavyoil.productionby
the C% huff-n-puff
process:
(a)

Lirritedsuccea may be obtained if the

reservoiria too shallowand/orits pressure
Is too low to achl.eve
ahighsolubilityofC02
in the heavyoil. Problemssuchas extenalve
firigering
and excessivechannelingfurther
decreasedthe C% dispersionand volubility.

(b)

A high injectionrate of C
(100 tons/day,
for example) can aubstant
?ally cool the
reservoiraroundthe wellbore(thebottomhole

nn.

Abouthalf the internalvolumeof the apparatus

was filled with stock-tankoil, and then its
viscosityand densitywere measured. Methanewas
then introducedinto the windowedcell at 400 psi
(2.8MPa),and the circulating
pumpactivated.This
had the effectof withdrawing
oil fromthe bottomof
the windowedcell,passingit throughthe blindcell
and viscometers,
then sprayingit throughthe gas
phaseat the top of the windowedcell. This cawed
intimatemixingof the fluidsin the I\pparatus
and
saturatedthestock-tank
oil withmethaueto produce
live oil.

.,

Qnw
U*

S.G.
SAYEGHAND
M. SARBAR
----...

9nfi Q7
-vu-c

The recombined
oil was used in all the subsequent
Oil/cO-& measurements. The results of these
measurements
at 69.@F (21C)and at ?.84F
(14@c)
are shown in Figures 2 to 9 and will now be
discussedin detail.

The mixinglsaturating
step was carriedout for
at least four hours, and sometimesup to twelve
hours, depending on hw fast the oil became
saturatedwith methane. During this processthe
systempressurewas monitored,and the mixturewas
assumedsaturatedwhen the systempressureremained
stable. If the initialbatch of methanewas not
sufficientto saturatethe stock-tankoil, more
methanewas added. Care was takenin this step to
keep the amount of free methane to a minimumto
due
to
minimize possible compositionalChanges
vaporization
of componentsfromthe oil phaseto the
gas, After the batch had been saturated,excess
methane was purged out at constant pressureby
openin8the pur8evalveand simultaneously
driving
the pistonupwards.

!301ubility
of ~

in the Oil:

Figure 2 compares the gss/oil ratios of the

oil/CC+mixturesat both measurementtemperatures.
It is immediately
evidentthat C% is more soluble
in the oil at the lower temperaturethan at the
higher one. For example, at the highest test
pressureof 1,500 psi (10.3MPa) the gas/oil a o
at 69.80F(21C)was about 337 scf/bbl(60 ##/
whileat 2840F(}4(PC)the valuewas only about19;
scf/bbl(35 IT?/n+).

The batch was left standingfor at least 12

hours, sfter which samples of known volume (as
measuredby the mo~ementof the floatin8piston)
were takenfrom the windowedcell. Each samplewas
flashedto atmosphericpressureand the amountsof
liquid (primarilystock-tankoil) and gas (mainly
methane)therebyproducedweredetermined. The gas
was then analysedin a gas chromatography
and the
densityof the stock-tankoil measured. This data
waa then used to calculatethe 8asloilratio and
compositionof the sample. The 011 in the sample
was further characterizedusing the saturstesaromatics-restns-asphaltenes
(SARA)analysis.

An importantpoint to note in Figure2 is that

more gas was left in the oil afterthe pressurehad
been drawndown from 1,500to 400 psi (10.3to 2.8
MPa)thanthe amountdissolvedwhen the liveoil was
firstsaturatedwithC@ at400 psi (2t8MPa). This
is probably
a consequence
of the factthat,when the
oil was takenthroughthe pressurization-liberation
dissolved in the oil and displaced
cycle, C
methane.% his is shownin Figure3 where the mole
in the oillgasmixtureat 400 psi
fractionof C
(2,8 MPa) at %t e end of the cycle is hi8her than
4 also
reflects
the
that at the beginin8, Figure
but vis-a-vis the oil mole
above
observations
fraction:the mole fractionof the oil in the cycleo
mixtureis less than that in the originalone.

The dendty and viscosityof the mixturewere

measured next..This was done by driving both
floatingpistons in oppositedirections,thereby
flowing the contc~ts of the cells through the
densitometer
and viscometer.

Samplestaken from the top and bottomof the

cellsshowedsomewhatdifferentcompositions.This
could indicatethat there were two phases formed,
the top one bein8 richerin diesolvedgas than the
bottomone, Thesephasesappearto be veryclosein
properties,
especiallytheirdensities(cf. Figure
5), and were difficult to separate. Complete
separationwtisnot achievedin any of the tests,
even thoughsome of themwere left standingfor two
to three days. Another possibilityis that a
residualamountof gas was trappednear the oillgas
interfaceat the lower temperaturedue to the
relativelyhigherviscosityof the mixture.

Carbon dioxidewas then added t. the windowed

cell,whilekee>i.ng
the pressureconstantat 400 psi
(2.8 MPa), and the above saturationprocedure
repeated. Once equilibriumhad been attained,
sampleswere taken from the top and bottomof the
cells for compositionalmeasurements,and the
densitiesand viscositiesof the mixtures were
measuredas describedabove. This process was
repeatedat the increasingpressuresof 900~ 1,200~
and 1,500psi (6,2,8.3 and 10.3MPa,respectively),
thenat the reducedpressureof 400 psi.(2,8M?a).
The formationof multiplephaseswas indicated
if the propertiesof the mixtureat the top of the
cell were different from those at the bottom.
Furthermore,
vl.aual indication of
the
precipitation
o;a solidphasewas obtainedif such
preci.pltstes
were observedon the window of the
windowedcell.

Dsnsitlesof the OiUGaa Mixtures:

RESULTS
Table 1 list some of the measuredproperties
of the stock-tankoil: It is a heavyoil of abcut
llOAPl,
and k.s a viscosityof 26,846cp (mPa.s)at
69.@F (21C),and an averagemolecularweight of
628.The stock-tank
oil was recombined
with methane
to a saturationpressureof 400 psi (2,8MPa).The
reeultantreco i d oil hsd a gas/oilratioof 253
scf/bbl(4.5 33/ ) and a vimosity of 21,680CP
(mPa.

s),

1
-

The densitieeof the oil gas mixtures are

plottedin Figure 5. It is to be noted that the
densit;values did not change to a large extent
duringthe courseof the measurements:
The maximum
than ewas onlyl%at 69.8% (21C)and 1,7%at 284F
(14Cf9c)*
At 69.80F(21C)the densityrose slightlywith
increasingpressure,while at 284F (14@C) the
densitydecreasedslightlywith increasing
pressure.
Thereare two counterbalancing
effectstakingplace
in this process:The firstis the increseing
amount
of
C% in the oil as the pressure increases(cf.
Figure3) which will decreasethe densityof the
mixturesinceC02 hae a lowerdensitythan the oil.
The second factoris the increaseddensityof the
liquidswith increasingpressuredue to their

1%

PHASEBEHAVIORPROPERTIES
OF Mh/~EAW
OIL MI.mfJRBS
~R EOR APPLICATIONS
6

Cornpreesibilities,
The ne; trendof densitychanges
with increasing
pressurewillde$endon the relative
magnitudeof thesetwo effects.

mind that at this temperature

the oil/gaamixtures
were relativelyviscousand adheredtO the windows
of the cell. This made it hard to positively
identifythe }.esenceor absenceof a separateaolid
phase.

As mentionedbefore,sampleswere takenfrom the

top and bottomof the cellsat each temperature
and
pressure and, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, a
differencewas observedin the gas contentof these
samples. Nevertheless,
little,if any, difference
was observedin thedensitiesof thesesamples,This
$,s
not
surprisingin view of the very weak
dependenceof the densitiesof the mixtureson the
amount of C% dissolvedin the oil. This also
indicatesthat very longtimeswill be requiredfor
thesephasesto separateout completely.
Viacositiea

of Oil/~

On the other hand, very clear indicationsof

solidsprecipitation
werenotedat 284F(14@C): As
soonas C% was dissolvedin the oil at 400 pai (2,8
MPa) fine particleswere observedto adhereto the
windowof the cell.
SARA Analysis

Mixtures:

69,6OF
(21C)Oil Samrdes:

Anotherimportantobservation
is that,when the
oil had been put thr~..?h
the pressurization
)Iteps
then drawnback to 400 psi (2.8MPa),the viscosity
was lowerthan that of the oil originallysaturated
withC% at 400 psi (2.8MPa).This is a consequence
of the fact noted above thst the oil retainedC
preferrentlally
to methanewheni was takenthroug
%
the pressurizationliberationcycle.
The viscosities
of the fluidsat the top of the
cells were, in general,lower than those of the
fluids at the bottom of the cells. This iS
consistent with the gas/oil ratioe of these
phases,as notedin Figure2, and theirC!+ content,
aa notedin Figure3.
Swelling& FormationVolumeFactors:
The swellingand formation
volumefactorsof the
heavyoil/C mixturesare shownin Figures7, 8 and
9. It is c2 ear that the dl.saolution
of C% within
the oil cauaesswellingand amountof swellingwhich
occursat69.@F (21C)is 8reaterthanthatobserved
at 284F(14@C), Ten percentswellingla achieved
at a C% pressureof 1,200psi (8.3MPa) at 69.80F
(21C).Thiaienot significantly
increased
whenthe
C% pressureis increasedfrom 1,200to 1,500 pai
(8.3 to 10.3 MPa). In generalthese resultsare
similarto thosereportedbefore,e.g. 10% swell g
was observedby Sankuret al, for Wilmingtonoil$?,
of a Solid

of Oil Samples:

Samples of oil obtainedat the vario;;d~

saturation pressures were centrifuged
Saturates-Aromatics-Resins-Asphaltenes(SARA;
ana,lyeis
was performedon them,The centrifugation
step was to sepsrateout any precipitatedsolids
that remsinedsuependedin the oil sample.The
resultsare discussedbelow.

The viscosities
oftheoil/C~ mixturesare shown
in Figure6. It is immediatelyevidentthat the
dissolutionof C% into the oil.has the effectof
effectively
reducicgits viscosity.For example,at
69,@F(21C) the viscosityofthe liveoil is 21,680
cp (mPa.s),whilethatof the oil saturatedwithC~
at 1,500 psi.(10.3 MPa) is about 403 CP (mPa.s),
which is equivalentto a 53-foldreduction. The
effect is not that dramaticat 2840F (14CPC):The
viscosityof the live oil is about19.6cp (mPa.sl~
while that of the C$-saturatedoil at 1,500 psi
(10,3 MPa) is 9.2 cp (mPs.s),giving a viscosity
reductionfsctorof 2.1.

Precipitation

SPE 20037

Phase:

No indicationof the precipitation

of a solid
phase(heavyends of the crudeoil)was observedat
69,@F (21C). Nevertheless,
it shouldbe kept in
---

Analyaes were carried out of oil samples

obtainedat differentC% saturationpressuresat
69.@F (21C).Sinceno asphaltenes
were seenin the
windowof the phasebehaviourcellat 69.80F(210C),
and in order to minimizethe number of samples,
equalvolumeswerewithdrawnfromthe top and bottom
of the teat cell. These sampleswere then mixed
their saturates,
together and analyzed for
aromatics,resinsand asphaltenes
content,
The resultsare sumarizedin Table 2. It iS
evidentthatthemostsignificant
changeoccurredin
the asphaltenea
content.Thisremainedunchangedat
about15% for theoil/C02mixturesbelow900psi (6.2
MPa) which is slightly above the Iiquification
pressure of C$.
The asphaltenecontent then
increasedto about 21% at pressuresover 900 psi
(6.2 MPa) an.iremainedthe same up to 1,500 psi
(10.3 MPa).
It also remained the same after
depressurization
from 1,500psi to 400 pai (10.3to
2.8 MPa). Sincetherewas no vieualindicationof
a solid phase separationwithin the cell, this
increasein asphsl,tene
content may be due to a
redistribution
of the differentcomponentsof the
crude oil in the presenceof liquid~, i.e. the
heavier fractions enriched with colloidal
asphaltenes
graduallymigrateto the bottomof the
cell forming two distinct layers. This can be
explainedby the preferentialvolubilityof nonpolarcomponentsof the heavycrude oil withinthe
liquidC , The resultsshown in Figure:.
2 and 6
confirmt
? f.a, At pressuresabove the Iiquifaction
pressureof ~ the sampleswithdrawnfrom the top
of the cellhave considerably
highergasloilratioa
(GORs)than thosefrom the bottomof the cell and
the viscositiesof the bottomsamplesare greater
than the top samples, Sincehigherviscosities
are
always associated with the higher asphaltene
content,therefore,this is clear evidencefor the
presenceof two layerswithin tha cell. The same
trend was observedfor the sample obtainedafter
depreaaurization
from 1,500psi to 400 pai (10,3to
2,8 MPa), This can be explainedby the high C%
content of the oil after the depressurization
processand the fact that the recombination
of two
layerais a slow process,

SPE 20037

S.G. SAYEGHANDM, SAWAR

A final commentbased on these resultscan be

made at this point: There was no asphaltenes
precipitation
or solidphaseseparation
observedat
the higher pressures(900 - 1,500 psi, or 6.2 to
10,3MPa). However,in orderto avoidany possible
negativeeffect of the asphaltenesredistribution
procese,it is recommendedfor the presentsystem
that C$ shouldbe injectedinto the reservoirat
pressures below its liquefaction(saturation)
pressureso that it remainsas a 8aa.
284F(14&C) Oil Samples:
Some asphaltenesprecipitationwas observed
while saturatingthe heavy oil with C% at 284F
(14@C), Therefore,separateeamplesfrom the top
and bottomof the experimental
cell were withdrawn
at each saturationpressure and were analyzed
separatelyas llstedin Table3. Even thoughthere
was some difference in some of the physical.
properties(such as viscosities)of the top and
bottomphasesof the heavy oil/C mixtures,SARA
analysesindicateonly a minor d!!fferencein the
asphaltene contentof the samples(l-2%). Since
all of the valuesforasphaltenes
contentof top and
bottom phase are very close to the originaloil
(within 1-2% differencerange}, it can be also
concludedthat the amountof precipitation
during
the testwas not significant.

Considerationshould also be given to other

factors such as reservoir heterogeneities,
the
effect of gravity segregationon the volumetric
distribution
of the injectedgas, and the extentof
the presence of natural fractures within the
reservoir.If the presenceof an extensivefracture
network is found in the reeervoir, then
consideration
couldbe givento applyinga ~ fo~
process.Injection.
ofC~ in the formofafosmwil.1
minimizethequickC dissipation
intothe fractures
therebyaneffective
%
dispersion
withintheoil in
the vicinityof the in?ectionwell will be achieved.
CONCLUSIONS

(1)

C% dissolvedto a considerable
extentin
the heavycrudeoil at 1,200psi (8.3MPa)
and 69.@F (21C)(the as/oilratio was
about303 scf/bblor 55 ~/m3), and caused
someoil swelling(about10%)as well as a
significant
viscosityreduction(about25fold),When oil was saturatedwith C% at
1,500psi (10,3MFa) at 69.&F (21C)the
decreasein viscositywas about 50-fold
(fromabout22,000cp to about400 CP).

(2)

The viscosityreductionof the heavycrude

oil by C% at 284F (14@C) was not as
significantaa at 69.80F(21C)since the
viscosity of the oil was already
substantiallyreduced by the elevated
temperature.

(3)

Changesin thedensitiesof the heavycrude

oil/C~ mixtureswere not significant.

(3)

In order to use C% as an effective

viizosityreducingagent in the present
re~ervoirsystemit ia advisableto inject
C% when tlsreservoiris at its original
temperaturerather than during or after
stesminjection.

(4)

If asphalteneprecipitation
provesto be a
big problem,the injectionpressuresshould
be adjustedso that the C% will remainin
the gaaeous form at the reservoir
temperature(i.,e.
below its liquificction
pressure).

Solids(crudeoil heavyends)precipitation
may
pose a problem in the applicationof C% in
con~unctionwith steam flooding,and thiu point
needs to be takenInto accolmtwhen designingsuch
a process.This problem could also appear in a
firefloodapplication,
sinceoil and C% will be in
contactat high temperature.

(5)

AccordinLto thesefindingstheapplication
of C% for enhancedoil recoveryin the
heavy crude oil reservoiris feasible.
Viscosityreductionwouldplaya majorrole
in improvingproductivity
especiallywhen
it is usedas a well stimulating
agent.

Successfulapplicationof C% to enhancedoil
recoverydependsupon a largenumberof operational
and reservoirvariables, These includethe amount
of C% injectedper well,its rateof injection,
the
lengthof soak period,the absoluteand relative
permeability
charactcristica
of the reservoir,the
presenceor absenceof a mobilewater saturation,
The
and reservoir emall scale heterogeneities.
effect of these fhctors on the displacement
efficiencyof the process can be examined by
laboratorycore floodsusing reservoirmaterials,
temperatures!
pressures,and flow rates.

ACKNOWIJiWR4ENE

DISCUSSION
The phase behavior results described above
indicate that the applicationof c% for the
stimulation
of heavyoil productionis feasiblefor
the systemstudiedhere.This is indicatedby the
53-foldreductioninthe oilsviscositywhen it was
saturatedwith C% at 1,500psi(10.3MPa) and 69.@F
(21OC)* The resultsalso indicatethatC% is more
effectivein reducingthe oilsviscosityat 69.80F
(21C)than at 284F (14@C). Thus to make use of
Cqs viscosity reducing characteristicsit is
adviaableto injectit when the reservoiris at ita
originaltemperature(69.80For 21C in this case)
ratherthanduringor afterinjectingsteamintoit.
Accordingly,
the indications
arethatC02 can beueed
as a well stimulatingagent by, for example,the
huff-n-puff process, or can be used as a
pretreatment
agentpriorto steaminjection.

The authorswouldlike to thank Esao Resources

Canadafor grantingpermission
to publishthiswork.
Acknowledgementis also made to J. Najman for
performingthe phase behaviormeasurements,
and to
B. Fraserfor help in preparingthismanuscript.

PHASEBEHAVIORPROPERTIESOF

cO,/HEAVY

OIL MIXTURES FOR EOR APPLICATIONS

SPE 20037

&

REFERENCES
(1)

Stright,Jr., D.H,, Aziz,K., Setari,A., and

Starratt,F.E.:CarbonD
ioxide Injection
into
Bottom-Water Undersaturated viscous oil
Reservoirs,
JPT (October1977)1248-1258,

(2)

Bells,E., Bilgeri,d,, Causin,e., Chierici,

G.L.,Gili, V., Mirabelli,G., and Sozzi,1.:
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Oil Accumulation,
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tlpiroPo
Italy, Study of an ExploitationProcess,
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on EnhancedOil Recovery,Paris,November
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(3)

(4)

(5)

Miller,J.S., and Jones,R.A.: A Laboratory

Studyto DeterminePhysicalCharacteristics
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paperSPI@OE
9789 presentedat the 1981 Second Joint
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!hllsa,
Oklahoma,April5-8.
Sayeght S.G., Rae, D.N., Kokal, S,L., and
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?
Mixturest,
presentedat the 1989~~th,
Annua
TechnicalMeetingof the PetroleumSocietyof
CIM, Banff,Alberta,28-31May.
Chung,F,T.H.
, Jones,R.A,,and Nguyen,H.T.,
Measurementsa
ndCorrelationsof thePhysical
Propertiesof C~-Heavy Crude Oil Mixtures:
paper SPE 15080,presentedat the 1986 56th
California Regional Meeting of the SPE,
Oakland,CA, April2-4.

(6)

Jacoby,R.H,: Phase Behavior of Light

Hydrocarbon-Heavy
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Application
to RecoveryProcessed,
Interstate
Oil CompactComm.Bull.,vol. 27, no. 2, pp.
50-56,Dec. 1985.

(7)

Shelton, J.L. and Morr.1.a,

E,E.: Cyclic
Injectionof Rich Gaa intoProducingWellsto
IncreaseRates from Viscous-OilReservoirs,
JPT (Au6.1973)890-896,

(8)

Patton,J.T., Costa,K.H., and Spence,K.: A

Parametric Study of the C+ Huff-n-Puff
Process,paperSPE9228 presentedat the 1979
54th Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibitionof the SPE, DallaaTexes,
Sept.23-26.

(9)

Patton,J.T., Sigmund,P,, Evans,E!.,Ghose,

s
and Weinbrandt,R,: Design of C%
S;~mulation
ProcessforHeavyOi.1Reservoirs,
paper SPE 8897 presentedat the 1980 50th
California Regional Meeting of the SPE
Pasadena,California,
April9-11.

(10) Klins,M.A.,and Farouq-Ali,

S.M.:HeavyOil
Production
by CarbonDioxideInjection,
paper
81-32-42presentedat the 1981 32nd Annual
TechnicalMeetingof the PetroleumSocietyof
CIM, Calgary,Alberta,Mey 3-6.

(11)

Maini,B.B.,and Sayegh,S.G,:Laboratory
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(12)

Sayegh,S.G.,and Maini,B.B,:Laboratory
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(13)

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(14)

AGIP Boosts Productionat Ponte Dirillo

Field with C% Enriched Gas,.Enhanced
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(15)

Reid,T.B,,and Robinson,H.J.:LickCreed
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~-Waterflood
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(16)

Nemeth, E.: Mein Results of Field

ExperimentEateblishing
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(17)

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(18)

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(19)

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(20)

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(21)

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Emanuel, A.S.: A LaboratoryStudy of
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Tsblt

1:

Crud*

Oil

Proporei.s

prasaura,

Saturation

psi

@ 69, 8*F (21*C)

Dmaity

Don*icy @ 2S4*F (140C),

Viscosity

@ 69,8*F

Viscosity

@ 286*F

400

(fSpa)

(2,8)

, 6/ml

0.989

0.990

c/ml

0.905

0.903

(21*C) , 0p

(mP&D)

21,600

26, S46

0p (MFa.s)

(140*C) ,

23.6

19,6

fhs/oU ratio @ 69. S*F (21W,

scfmbl

(m/m*)

25.3

(4.5)

CaCIOil

scf/bbl

(m/M)

17.4

(31)

ra$io

(140C),

62S

sohaular wci&!IC

Av@ra@

1)

@ 2S4F

Stock-tank

Mbla

2:

Pr9mwre
pJi

oil

wm

SAPA Amlyms

rtcoabin.d

of Oil

Pt*amura
nPa

Saaploa

Saturatae
8

metharm

from 67. S*F (21-C)

Arout
!

T*sts

Rasins
9

lca

Anphnlt*na8
\

.
32,58

23.87

14.47

27.08

14.95

2?.89

29.32

27.32

2.76

28.35

32.06

25.07

14,5.2

1,200

8,27

25.05

32,82

21.15

20. ?s

1,500

10! 34

24<20

33,16

22.26

20.39

2.76

23.77

32,51

22,04

21,68

400
400

400

Tabla

with

3:

SARA Analyllm

Pr*@lutw

of Oil

Pr9mur*

SaaplBB

amph
L-a.xcion

from 284*F

s&turflt*l

AlalLJl12ALQL~
o

(140C)

Tmm

Aromat lca

~
ToP

25,87

32,58

27.08

14,47

400

2,76

TOP

22,80

31,17

32,66

13,37

400

2.76

TOP

2?.02

3242s

26,21

14,41

32.91

26,31

14.56

400

2,76

Bottom

26,24

900

6,20

TOP

27,42

31.01

27,06

14, s1

900

6,20

Bottom

26,33

32.9?

26,00

14,20

1,200

8,27

TOP

26,54

31,19

27,61

14,66

1,200

8.27

Bottrm

25,54

33.08

26,05

15,33

1,500

10.36

T(IF

26,00

35,31

25,36

14.33

a,500

10. YI

Bottom

26,16

27.7)

29,83

16,30

400

2.76

lop

23.44

34,19

2S,36

14,00

400

2,76

Bottom

23,76

33,34

26.92

15!98

e, Thwmotta!d
5. Samplb Port

:&

e,t.owvotuo vltcomttor

4. Ablowe PrWnum Troldllc+r

10 ,H1.#1VOIUOVISwmWW

oven

41. Bllna cdl

12, Dllt9fwItId Pf9WJI*

Tr0n8$JNr
W,wator R*wr*Olr
q4 ,~pen
Ditploctmtnt

4 .TtItImocOUPI*
6 .Wltdod
Cal
6, D*ndt0m9t6r
7 .Circu19tlne Pump

A/

40 1-

BC, Bottom

400

10

02468

At MPo

PRESSURE

0. BJP4st Llns

6AS/OfL RATIOS OF FROG LAKE OIL/COe

MIXTURES.

HEAVY OIL PHASE BEHAVIORAPPARATUS

fig< 2
Fig, 1

ml

+,CH4

IL
...
. .,
a..

90

60

cog

t
$
LL

o
~

80

w c, Top

21t2,
r30ttom

A 140*C, Top and Bottom

011
n stock-tank
0

Recombined 011

70

\\

40 1-

o~
0246810

12

Ml%

2s4

400

900

.,

1~
e----,
,-
w.

1200 1500 Psl

10

lz MPo

OOOOI

,ooo\c,4,~

*E
\

C
G
z
u
n

21
C, Top and Bottom
A 140@C, Top and Bottom

950

g stock-tank

Oil

D Recombined Oil

cl-h
C02
900 - -

1+1

,5,L

400

o
I

1
024

I
42 MPa

10

0246
VISCOSITIES

&WVSITIES OF FROG LAKE OIL/CO~

MIXTURES.

F1&6

21C

A 140c
m Stock-tonk 011
Recombined011

g 1,16
1a 1,54
L 1,12 g ,,, f):
CH4 ,,;

1,0 6-

*9

4
w~~

.
E 1!04a 1,0z ~,, CH4
,,, ,., .O,
E 1,Of& 200 400

A
600
1

800

10001200
I

6
PFWSURE

1400 16(
I
I
IO MPo

Psl

FORMATION VOLUMEFACTORSOF FROG LAKE OIL/COe

MIXTURES.
fig,7
I

I
12 MPo

OF FROG LAKE OIL/CO~

MIXTURES.

Fl@.5

g 1,08-

10

PRESSURE

PRE?SSUI?E

E
4.20 %
1,18 -

1,11 -

0 21C ToP
021*C Bottom
A 140C ToP
A 140 C Bottom

1,10 ~

1.09 -

1,08 -

&
0
~

1,07 -

1.05 -

1s34

1,03 -

q ,02 .

1,06 -

1 ,Ofl1.00~

10

20

50

60

30
40
MOLE PERCENTC02

SWELLING FACTOIR$VERSUS COaCONTENT W FROG LAKE O/L/

COa M/XW?ES,

1,10
~

,,09

1.08

A 140C
210C

0
/0

~ 1,07
g q,)6

/0

1,05 ;fi

1,02

e
/

1,01 -O--2ti
I

400
I

AM

..

800

600
1

100012001400
1

1600P61
I

10 MPa

PRESS:RE

SWELLING FACTORSOF FROG4AUE O/L/COe MIXtURES