Dynamic simulation of preformed aqueous foam stability for enhanced oil recovery application

  • Tayeb Sakhi Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, BP 32, El Allia – Bab Ezzouar 16111, Algiers, Algeria; Laboratory of Process Engineering – Environment – Agrifood (GEPEA-UMR CNRS 6144) C.R.T.T.-37, bd- BP 406 44602 SAINT-NAZAIRE, University of Nantes, France.
  • Rachida Chemini Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, BP 32, El Allia – Bab Ezzouar 16111, Algiers, Algeria
  • Yacine Salhi Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, BP 32, El Allia – Bab Ezzouar 16111, Algiers, Algeria
  • Abdellah Arhaliass Laboratory of Process Engineering – Environment – Agrifood (GEPEA-UMR CNRS 6144) C.R.T.T.-37, bd- BP 406 44602 SAINT-NAZAIRE, University of Nantes, France.
Keywords: Level-set method, EOR, Drainage, Coalescence, Foam stability

Abstract

Aqueous foam is a two-phase system consisting of a continuous liquid phase and a dispersed gas phase. Foams are widely used in a variety of industrial operations, such as the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons. Because of their unique properties, they can solve a variety of reservoir heterogeneity problems, including early gas breakthrough, channeling, and even viscous fingering. A variety of phenomena affect the stability of foams during flow, for example, the drainage process, gas diffusion, and bubble coalescence. In this research, we used the level-set method to simulate foam stability in various aspects, such as factors affecting foam drainage and coalescence phenomena. According to the simulation results, the foam's lifetime is greatly impacted by the phenomena of drainage and coalescence. Moreover, its stability is strongly influenced by salt as well as the type of gas used to generate it.

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Simulation results of the impact of gases types on foam drainage
Published
2023-06-28
How to Cite
1.
Sakhi T, Chemini R, Salhi Y, Arhaliass A. Dynamic simulation of preformed aqueous foam stability for enhanced oil recovery application. Alger. J. Eng. Technol. [Internet]. 2023Jun.28 [cited 2024Dec.10];8(1):101-7. Available from: https://jetjournal.org/index.php/ajet/article/view/274