The profile control and displacement mechanism of continuous and discontinuous phase flooding agent

ABSTRACT

In order to further explore the profile control and displacement mechanism of continuous and discontinuous phase flooding agent, the concentration distribution mathematical model of microsphere dispersion system in different branch channels is established, and its particle phase separation is simulated by using microfluidic technology. On this basis, in order to research the migration and plugging characteristics of microspheres, the visualization experiments on micro oil displacement mechanism of polymer solution and microspheres are carried out. And the experiment on the injection, migration, and plugging performance of microspheres in the multi-point core is performed. Results indicate that microspheres are in the axis of the channel due to the effect of fluid shear stress, and preferentially enter the large channel with low resistance and high flow velocity, which results in no particle or few particles in the small aperture and low flow velocity channel. The microspheres have better migration and retention capacity in the core and their migration shows the characteristic of “fluctuating pressure change”. Compared with polymer solution, the alleviation of “entry profile inversion” and the better migration and plugging performance of microsphere dispersion system can realize deep fluid diversion and expand sweep volume.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Mechanism analysis
• microfluidic technology
• microscopic oil displacement experiment
• microsphere dispersion system
• migration-plugging properties
• particle phase separation