Some Effects of Pressure on Forward and Reverse Combustion
Authors: Wilson Lawrence A. , Reed Ronald L. , Reed Denzel W. , Clay Robert R. , Harrison Nicholas H. 
Published: December 2007

Experiments have been performed in a linear near-adiabatic system for the purpose of extending data on reverse and forward combustion from atmospheric pressure to 1,000 psig.Results obtained from reverse combustion appear to conform qualitatively with the existing description of the process when reaction kinetics are suitably modified to account for the increase in pressure, z. e., increasing the pressure decreases the peak temperature and increases the combustion zone velocity.Forward combustion appears to be a fuel dominated process wherein peak temperature and combustion zone velocity are not very sensitive to changes in pressure. The moderate effects of pressure that do exist at low flux virtually disappear at high flux providing all oxygen is consumed. With this provision, increasing the pressure decreases the frontal velocity and increases the peak temperature.Results are shown graphically which demonstrate the effects of pressure on peak temperature, rate of advance, oil recovery, air/oil ratio, carbon oxides produced and temperature distributions.

Introduction

Numerous field tests of oil recovery using the technique of underground combustion are now in progress. Operating pressures used are always substantially in excess of atmospheric pressure. Nevertheless, the literature contains no laboratory data pertaining to the effects of pressure except for those of Martin, Alexander and Dew. Unfortunately, these data appear to reflect heat losses which may have obscured some of the effects of increased pressure.The underground combustion processes are exceedingly complex, and general concepts relating to them have necessarily been described in relatively simple terms. Particularly with regard to forward combustion, the interaction between multiphase fluid flow, heat transport and various rate mechanisms is so involved that to date a rigorous treatment is not available.In this paper a linear near-adiabatic system is described which was found capable of operating at pressures up to 1,000 psig and temperatures of at least 1,100 F. Using this equipment, experiments on both forward and reverse combustion were accomplished at elevated pressures and the data presented as a function of air flux or temperature.It will be assumed that the reader is familiar with the papers of Wilson, Wygal, Reed, Gergins and Henderson on forward combustion and that of Reed, Reed and Tracht on reverse combustion, so that it is not necessary to repeat the details of the two processes.

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE

It was decided to study the effects of pressure over the interval 0–1,000 psig using a near-adiabatic system. Since satisfactory operation of such a system requires very thin tubing walls, it proved necessary to insert the entire combustion tube and heater assembly into a high pressure jacket in such a way that the internal tube pressure could be counterbalanced by pressurizing the annulus. This meant that the numerous heater and thermocouple wires had to pass through gas-tight seals that required considerable effort to maintain effective.An unexpected difficulty arose in connection with the nature of the annulus pressuring gas. It turned out that the composition of this gas critically affected the functioning of the adiabatic control system.Operation of the equipment at elevated pressures was not particularly difficult. The problems that did arise were a direct consequence of the large numbers of connections and seals involved.

EQUIPMENT

The equipment consisted of the combustion tube which fitted within the pressure jacket.

SPEJ

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