An experimental study of cyclic gas injection to improve shale oil recovery

T. D. Gamadi, J. J. Sheng, M. Y. Soliman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

Low oil recovery in shale oil reservoirs and vast shale reservoir volumes stimulate our efforts to investigate the application of enhanced oil recovery methods in shale oil reservoirs. A recent numerical study has indicated that cyclic gas injection could be an effective method to increase the oil recovery of shale oil reservoirs, and gas channeling can be mitigated. This paper presents our experimental verification and quantification of the potential to improve oil recovery by cyclic gas injection in shale oil reservoirs. Core plugs of Barnett, Marcos and Eagle Ford shales were used. The oil used was Mineral oil (Soltrol 130) and the gas used was Nitrogen. Unfractured cores were used in the experiments. The effects of cyclic time and injection pressure on oil recovery, among other parameters, were investigated. Our results also showed that cycle gas injection could increase the recovery from 10 to 50% depending on the injection pressure and shale core type. This study shows that one of the important mechanisms of cyclic gas injection is the pressure effect that causes a large pressure drawdown during the production phase. The cyclic gas injection provides an effective and practical method to improve oil recovery in shale reservoirs because the gas needed is available in liquid-rich shale plays.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, ATCE 2013
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Pages3019-3027
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9781629931876
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
EventSPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, ATCE 2013 - New Orleans, LA, United States
Duration: Sep 30 2013Oct 2 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition
Volume4

Conference

ConferenceSPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, ATCE 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans, LA
Period09/30/1310/2/13

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