Mobilization and Flow of Multiple Oil Slugs in Water Saturated Capillary Models
This research aims to investigate the mobilization and flow of Multi-Oil Slugs (MOS) inside capillary models saturated with water, attempting to understand the mechanism on how single oil slug (SOS) and MOS inside the capillary models are mobilized and stabilized inflow under static external pressure. The mobilization and stabilization pressures required for MOS in the models are quantified under various experimental conditions with different numbers of oil slugs. The oil slugs are all found experiencing the following patterns of state in the mobilization and flow stabilization: rest  slowly increased pressure  dramatically increased pressure  motion impending  unstable flow  stabilized flow. The influences of the number of oil slugs on the pressure increasing rate and maximum pressure for mobilizing the oil slugs together with the flow stabilization rate of the oil slugs and stabilization pressure are studied thoroughly. An analysis comparing the pressure drop and the oil slugs travelling displacements are also carried out for the cases of one, two, and three oil slugs. An investigation of the effects of the water film and effects of contact angles of the oil slugs are taken into consideration in relating to the mobilization and flow stabilization of SOS and MOS. The research results indicate with experimental evidence that the maximum pressure required to mobilize the oil slugs and stabilize the oil slugs flow in a capillary model increases with the increase of the number of oil slugs. The time required to mobilize the oil slugs and stabilize their flow also increases with the increase in the number of oil slugs. The research provides a guide for comprehending mobilization and flow mechanism of MOS subjected to static pressure and capillary force. Outcomes found in the research combined with further analysis of MOS could potentially be beneficial to water flooding research in petroleum engineering and oil production with water flooding techniques in industrial practices.
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Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina