Experimental Studies of Miscible Displacement Instability
Authors: Kyle C.R. , Perrine R.L. 
Published: December 2007

A transparent model of a reservoir has been used to study some characteristics of instability in miscible displacement. The linear model dimensions are 1/4 in.×9 1/2 in.×10 ft. The model is packed with spherical glass beads. Three groups of experiments have been performed. The objectives were to measure, respectively, the rate of growth of the transition zone, flow velocity variations in the transition zone, and the effect of a graded viscosity zone on stability. All experiments were compared, where possible, with theory.

The transition zone grew almost linearly with distance traveled, regardless of flow rate, where adverse viscosity ratios were used. At very adverse viscosity ratios and large distances traveled, some reduction below linear growth was noted. This could be attributed to the effects of mixing. General similarity in flow pattern was commonly shown in different tests, although exceptions occurred at the higher viscosity ratios.

Injection of tracer spots permitted direct experimental measurement of velocity variations. Statistical methods were used to compare observed velocity variations with recently published theories. Surprisingly good agreement with some theoretical predictions was obtained.

In the experiments using an initially graded viscosity zone, macroscopic stability was reached before predicted by theory. Under conditions theoretically considered to be slightly unstable, any fingering tendency was too slight to become observable within a 10-ft long system.

The general correlation of all experiments with published theory was good, and suggests that theoretical predictions can be extended to reservoir problems.

INTRODUCTION

Early laboratory studies of miscible displacement demonstrated the high recovery efficiency possible with this method. Linear laboratory models showed that, under some circumstances, all in - place hydrocarbons could be recovered using as little solvent as 5 per cent of the pore volume. These results led to a series of pilot field projects. Under realistic conditions, however, other laboratory studies showed that a small solvent bank may not recover much more oil than a conventional gas drive. The cause of this lack of efficiency is unstable viscous fingering. The size of the solvent bank required to give optimum recovery is, therefore, a question of great economic significance.

The object of the experiments described in this paper was the quantitative measurement of unstable flow parameters, the verification of present theories on the miscible displacement process, and correlation of these theories with experimental observation. Of the theories which have been advanced, those by Dougherty, Koval and Perrine show promise of predicting reservoir performance with reasonable accuracy.1–7 The present experiments were correlated, where possible, with the theories of Koval and Perrine. Dougherty's theory was not used because of the additional computational difficulty it presented and the belief that no further information would result.

EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT

A transparent reservoir model, consisting of a vertical reinforced plexiglass column, was used for the experiments. The column was packed with glass beads, which served as the porous medium. To induce a known velocity disturbance in the flow, a double cosine wave restriction in the transverse cross-section was placed at the top of the column. To mark the flow field and provide a means of measuring the local fluid velocity, a dye-spot injection system was provided. The column was 10 ft high by 9 1/2 in. wide by 1/4 in. deep. The cosine restriction was placed 16 in. from the top of the column. The glass beads were smooth and spherical and had a mean diameter of 0.0102 cm.