Mechanism for viscoelastic emulsion displacing oil film – A numerical simulation approach

ABSTRACT

The reservoir characteristics and fluid property of Daqing reservoir were taken as the research platform. For simulating the emulsifying process in the reservoir, injecting different concentrations of emulsifier solution into the core after water flooding, the viscoelasticity of the emulsion was measured. According to the value of the emulsion viscoelasticity, the numerical model of emulsion displacing oil film was established. Elastic stress acting on the oil film was calculated when the emulsion migrates. The deformation and transportation of the oil film were analyzed at bearing the elastic stress. The results show that the emulsion has favorable viscoelasticity. When the emulsifier concentration is higher, the emulsion elasticity is favorably increased. The oil film can deform and transport forward by the elastic stress. The elastic stress increases as the emulsion elasticity increases.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Elastic stress
• emulsion
• numerical simulation
• oil film
• viscoelasticity