Prediction of the Phase Behavior Generated by the Enriched-Gas-Drive Process
Authors: Rowe A.M. , Silberberg I.H. 
Published: December 2007

A computer program was written to predict the phase behavior generated by the enriched-gas-drive process. This program is based, in part, on a new concept of convergence pressure, which is then used to select vapor-liquid equilibrium ratios (K-factors) for performing a series of flash calculations. The results of these calculations are the equilibrium vapor and liquid phase compositions which define the phase envelopes. The program was used to predict phase envelopes for 11 different hydrocarbon systems on which published experimental data were available. The predicted and experimental results compare favorably.

Introduction

The reservoir engineer is frequently faced with the problem of predicting what will happen if gas is injected into a reservoir. One aspect of this general problem is predicting the phase changes that will occur when a non-equilibrium gas displaces a reservoir fluid. In particular, a "dry" gas, upon displacing a volatile oil will pick up intermediate components from the oil. On the other hand, a "wet" gas, containing a high concentration of intermediates, will lose some of these components to a relatively low-gravity, non-equilibrium crude. It is this latter process, occurring in the enriched-gas displacement, which is treated in this paper. In the past, these phase changes have been determined experimentally and the results incorporated into various modifications of the Buckley-Leverett analysis. Such experimental work is time consuming, and the results are sensitive to numerous experimental errors. With the wide availability of high-speed digital computing equipment and numerous correlations pertaining to the vapor-liquid equilibria of hydrocarbon systems, it is now practical to calculate such phase behavior. This paper describes a computer program for performing these calculations.

THE ENRICHED GAS DISPLACEMENT PROCESS

Experimental results have shown that oil recovery can be significantly increased by enriching the displacing gas with intermediate hydrocarbon components. The essential features of the phase behavior generated by this enriched-gas-drive process are commonly illustrated with ternary diagrams such as Fig. 1. In this figure, Gas D, which contains a high concentration of intermediate hydrocarbons with respect to the undersaturated Crude A, is injected into the reservoir. When D contacts A, gas goes into solution until the oil becomes saturated (Point. B). Further contacting of Gas D and saturated Oil B results in a Mixture C which separates into Vapor Y(c) and Liquid X(c). Liquid X(c) is contacted by additional Gas D, resulting in Mixture E which separates into Vapor Y(e) and Liquid X(e). Repeated contacts of the liquid by the injected gas will eventually result in Liquid X(d) of maximum enrichment existing in equilibrium with Gas Y(d). The equilibrium tie-line X(d) Y(d), when extended, passes through the Point D representing the enriched injection gas. For systems of more than three components, the predicted equilibrium states are dependent upon not only reservoir temperature and pressure, but also the compositions of the crude oil and injected gas. If the gas is sufficiently enriched, a miscible displacement is generated. Line is tangent to the phase envelope at the critical point (Point Z) and represents the limiting slope of the tie-lines as the critical state is approached. Point I therefore represents the minimum enrichment of injection gas required to generate a miscible displacement. Point G represents the minimum enrichment required for initial miscibility of the injection gas with Crude A.Attra has presented a method to be used for prediction of oil recovery by the enriched gas displacement process. To develop the phase behavior data needed, he designed the experimental procedure described in the following quotation from his paper

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