ENRICHED GAS DISPLACEMENT: DESIGN OF SOLVENT

COMPOSITIONS

R.S. WU J.P. BATYCKY B. HARKER D. RANCIER

this article begins on the next page F

JCPT86-03-06 ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY Enriched gas displacement: design of solvent compositions R.S. WU, J.P. BATYCKY, B. HARKER and D. RANCIER Esso Resources Canada Limited ABSTRACT It is essential for a successful hydrocarbon miscible project that the design of the miscible solvent composition be accurate so as to balance technical and economic constraints. "en a single solvent is under consideration, laboratory experiments alone are adequate. But, when a range of solvents must be considered or when the compositions of the make-up streams can vary, a reliable predictive method becomes
invaluable. A methodology has been developed for accurate and rapid design of a miscible solvent composition. Using an adequately 'tuned'equation-of-state for predicting phase compositions at a design pressure and temperature, the proposed technique presents a unique method for constructing a pseudoternary diagram that incorporates both solvent and oil properties. Unlike other procedures which require specification of a solvent composition to generate the phase behaviour for each solvent being examined, this method requires only that the composition of LPG and dry gas streams which
combine to form the solvent be specified, thus allowing the final composition to be deter- mined explicitly. The proposed procedure has been applied in three pools. The success of this new technique for predicting solvent gas compositions has been verified experimentally. Background In its simplest form, a ternary diagram can be used to uniquely represent the phase behaviour resulting when three components are combined in various proportions, either experimentally or using equation-of-state calculations. Because reservoir fluids are comprised of numerous components, it is necessary for the
pur- pose of visual representation to group components so that the ternary diagram represents the phase behaviour of three pseudo- components. The components are grouped according to the physical properties of each component at the reservoir tempera- ture and operating pressure. For a miscible hydrocarbon pro- cess, the pseudocomponents are generally dry gases, intermedi_ ates or LPGs and heavy ends. While the resulting diagrams can be useful for developing qualitative understanding of process behaviour, their application in specific situations requires that they must be constructed for
that specific need. This paper is intended to indicate limitations inherent in and a suitable method for developing pseudoternary representations of the enriched gas or hydrocarbon miscible gas process. The proposed construction method is both accurate and rapid. A typical pseudoternary diagram is pictured in Figure 1. Although the grouping of components into pseudocom- Keywords: Hydrocarbon miscible flooding, Miscible solvent design, Phase behaviour, Pseudoternary diagrams. ponents is somewhat arbitrary, the location of phase boundaries and tie lines joining equilibrium gas
and liquid compositions are accurately determined either experimentally or analytically. The graphical pseudoternary representation merely enables the calculation to be plotted for visualization purposes. The solvent is assumed to be obtained by blending specific dry gas and LPG liquid streams which are proportioned to satisfy a miscibility, criterion with a given reservoir oil at reservoir temper- ature and a design pressure. For simplicity, with reference to Figure 1, the LPG components (basically intermediates) will all be contained in the upper vertex and the dry gas stream will be
contained in the lower left vertex. Thus, all possible solvents that can be determined by blending dry gas and LPG are repre- sented by compositions lying on the left side axis of the diagram. Note that even though they are plotted respectively on the same vertices, the intermediate and dry gas pseudocomponents originating from the oil are invariably different from the LPG and dry gas stream compositions. Located within the diagram is an envelope which separates single-phase and two-phase behaviour as indicated. Within the two-phase, envelope, liquid and gas compositions that coexist
at equilibrium are joined by a tie line that extends from the bubble point lint! at the right to the dew point line at the left. The bubble point and dew point lines join at a Plait or critical point. Solvents with compositions lying between the intermediates vertex and the first contact miscible (FCM) limit are sufficiently rich that a mixing line joining such a solvent composition with the oil composition lies entirely within the single-phase region. The two fluids are miscible in all proportions and are designated as being first contact miscible (FCM). The minimum FCM enrichment is
obviously dependent on the exact bubble point curve sin(,e it determines the location of a tangent line drawn from the oil composition to the left side base line. It is therefore essential @hat the two-phase envelope be accurately located in this region,- Solvents slightly leaner than the FCM limit can, through several stages of mass transfer whereby the solvent enriches the oil, also become miscible with the oil. In this region the process is termed . d multiple contact miscible (MCM). The leanest solvent composition that results in miscibility is that at the MCM limit, which in an
equilibrium situation is given by the intersection of the limiting tie line with the left side axis(l). For each of the above processes, virtually all of the oil contacted by solvent will be displaced. Based on these considerations, it can thus be seen that the two-phase envelope needs to be most accurate in the top portion at and above the location of the FCM tangent in order to obtain an accurate and reliable design composition. For solvent compositions leaner than that at the MCM limit, Paper reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of the
Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology. May-June 1986, Montreal 55
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ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY
Enriched gas displacement:
design of solvent compositions
R.S. WU, J.P. BATYCKY, B. HARKER and D. RANCIER
Esso Resources Canada Limited
ABSTRACT
11 is essential for a successful hydrocarbon miscible project thai
the design 0/ the miscible solvent composition be accurate so as
to balance technical and economic constraints. -When Q single
solvent is under considerationr laboratory experiments alone are
adequate. But. when a range of solvents must be considered or
when the compositions of the make-up streams can varYr 0
reliable predicti\-'e method becomes invaluable.
A methodology has been developed for accurate and rapid
design 0/ a miscible solvent composition_ Using an adequately
~tuned' equation-aI-state for predicting phase compositions at a
design pressure and temperature, lhe proposed technique
presents a unique method for constmcting a pseudolemory
diagram that incorporates bOlh so/l'enr and oil properties.
~ Unlike other procedures which require specification 0/ a solvent
composilion 10 generate the phase behaviour for eoc11 solvent
being examined, this method reqUires only thai the composition
0/ LPG and dry gas streams which combine to form the solvent
be specified, thus allowing the final composition to be de/er-
mined explicitly. The proposed procedure has been applied in
three pools_ The success 0/ this new technique for predicting
solvent gas compositions has been verified experimentally.
Background
In its simplest form, a ternary diagram can be used to uniquely
represent the phase behaviour resulting }vhen three components
are combined in various proportions, either experimentally or
using equation-of-state calculations. Because reservoir fluids are
comprised of numerous components, it is necessary for the pur-
pose of visual representation to group components so that the
ternary diagram represents the phase behaviour of three pseudo-
components. The components are grouped according to the
physical properties of each component at the reservoir tempera-
ture and operating pressure. For a miscible hydrocarbon pro-
cess, the pseudocomponent5 arc generally dry ga.<ies, intermedi-
ates or LPGs and heavy ends. \Vhile the resulting diagrams can
be useful for developing qualitative understanding of process
behaviour, their application in specific situations requires that
they must be constructed for that specific need. This paper is
intended to indicate limitations inherent in and a suitable
method for developing pseudotemary representations of the
enriched gas or hydrocarbon miscible gas process. The proposed
construction method is both accurate and rapid. A typical
pseudoternary diagram is pictured in Figure 1_
Although the grouping of components into pseudocom-
Keywords: Hydrocarbon miscible nooding, Miscible solvent design,
Phase behaviour, Pseudo ternary diagrams.
Paper reviewed Bnd accepted for publicBtion by the Edilori.1 Bo.rd of lhe Journ.1 o f eBnB
May..June 1986, Monlreal
D:....:3~-..::D~b
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t'
ponents is somewhat arbitrary, the location of phase boundaries C' ,
and tie lines joining equilibrium gas and liquid compositions are :_"
accur~tely determined either experimentalJy or analytically. The
graphical pseudoternary representation merely enables the
calculation to be plotted for visualization purposes_
TIle solvent is assumed to be obtained by blending specific dry
gas and LPG liquid streams which are proportioned to satisfy a
miscibility criterion with a given reservoir oil at reservoir temper-
ature and a design pressure. For simplicity, with reference to
.,;-.
Figure 1, the LPG components (basically intermediates) will aU
be contained in the upper vertex and the dry gas stream will be ,.
contained in the lower lefl vertex. Thus. all possible solvents
that can be determined by blending dry gas and LPG are repre-
sented by compositions lying on the left side axis of the diagrarn_
Note that e~en though they are plotted respectively on the same . "
venices, the intermediate and dry gas pseudocomponents
originating from the oil are invariably different from the LPG
and dry gas stream compositions.
. Located within the diagram is an envelope which separates
smgle-phase and two-phase behaviour as indicated_ \Vithin the
two-phase envelope, liquid and gas compositions that coexist at
equilibrium are joined by a tie line that extends from the bubble
point line at the right to the dew point line at the left. The
bubble point and dew poinllines join at a Plait or critical point.
Solvents with compositions lying between the intermediates
vertex and the first contact miscible (FCM) limit are sufficientlY
rich t?at a mixing line joining such a solvent composition with
the all composilion lies entirely within the single-phase region.
The two fluids are miscible in all proportions and are designated
as being first contact miscible (FClvf). The minimum FCM
enrich~ent is obviously dependent on the exact bubble point
curve SInce it determines the location of a tangent line drawn
From the oil composition to the left side base line_ It is therefore
essential that the two~phase envelope be accurately located in
this region.
Solvents slightly leaner than the FCM limit can, through
several stages of mass transfer Whereby the solvent enriches the ,~ .. : ..
oil, also become miscible with the oiL In this region the process (.
is termed multiple contacl miscible (MCI\.1). The leanest solvent .. : -
co~po.sition that results in miscibility is that at the MCM limit,
which 10 an equilibrium situation is given by the intersection of -.-..
the limiting tie line with the left side axiS{I)_ For each of the
above processes, vinually all of the oil contacted by solvent will
be displaced.
Based on these considerations, it can thus be seen that the
two-phase envelope needs to be most accurate in the top portion
at and above the location of the FCM tangent in order to obtain
an accurate and reliable design composition. ,;.; r·:
For solvent compositions leaner than that at the MCM limit,
d "11m P
elroI Technology.
eum
55
 FIGURE L Pseudoternllry dia~ram.
FIGURE 2. Oil p~udotunan' repreSetllaLion.
mass transfer between solvent and oil still occurs, causing the oil
to swell, which effectively increases oil saturation and hence
mobility in a reservoir rock. The displacement process in this
region is immiscibl~. Neglecting the effects of gravity and
viscous fingering, the residual saturation would go from a maxi-
mum for a dry gas displacement to nearly zero at the MCM limit
as the solvent-oil interfacial tension is reduced.
The exact location of the MCM limit, as determined
dynamically from core or slim tube displacement experiments.
can differ from that found using equilibrium considerations!')
onty. Variations occur as miscibility is being developed during
displacement because the gas and enriched oil phases each have
different mobilities and hence velocities within the reservoir.
One mighL expect this as the ga.'i moves ahead of the liquid and
the system composition at any point ....ill be different than that
of the original phase behaviour envelope. The degree of depar.
ture from equilibrium-type behaviour will also depend on the
rate of change in gas compositions as the system becomes richer
in intermediates. Even though these limitations are recognized,
they can only be quantified by rigorously conducting andlor
simulating MCM experiments. Additional discussion on the
complexities associated with miscible displacement are sum·
marized in Stalkup(2). The work presented here essentially
represents a starting point for MCM solvent design that must be
verified using dynamic displacement tests.
Pseudoternary Diagram Construction
The construction of a pseudotemary diagram can be approached
using either experimental vapour-liquid equilibria (VLE) data or
those rlerived from equation-of-state (EOS) flash calculations.
56
FIGURE 3. Benham conslruction procedure.
DRY !lAS STREAIJI
DI1.Y G"'S if-~-""'C-~---;""'-~-'""'-'--~-""'-'--~-;';lottF..&VY ENOl
FIGURE 4. Pseudolcrnary dillgrum cCln~lrll[Linn.
This paper applies the Peng-Robinson equation-of-muelll LO
calculate the equilibrium two-phase gas and liquid compositions.
Before proceeding WiLh the development 0 f a pseudo ternary
diagram, it is essential that the reservoir oil be ch<lracLcrized 10
permit accurate represenlation of the phase behaviour. This
means that the experimentally measured bubble point pressure
(P b), the gas-oil ratio (GOR), and the atmospheric flash com·
positions of either a bottomhole Or recombined lcS[ separator
sample of the reservoir fluid, must be matched usinJ~ the
equation-oF-slate. Tuning is basicallY the process of adjusting
the binary interaction parameters and critical properties of the
heavy ends. Such a process, while enabling represcnt<uion of the
low molecular weight gas-liquid na~h phenomena, is nol capable
of simulating dense-phase separations such as asphaltenc prc~
cipiLation. For the purposes stated here, the equalioll-of-slaLc is
considered to be reliable if computed values of
- the bubble point pressure, P b •
- lhe flash concentrallons of major components (methane in
the gas and heavy ends in the liquid). and
- the gas-oil mlio (GOR) maLch the experimenLall~r-deri\'cd
data. The ordering indicaled here is based on increasing experi-
mental uncertainty.
If these condiLions are satisfied, a Lwo-phase envelope can bc
generated. In addtLion LO the method proposed, many other
techmques have been developed to construct phase envelopes.
The simplest approach is to simply group and normalizc lhe oil
components into three pseudotomponents and sequentially vary
the amoUntS of each pseudocomponent by, for example, 10
mole per cent increments, and then perform flash calculations
for each composition. This process is illustrated In Flgurc 2.
The Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology