Investigating the Impact of Aqueous Phase on CO2 Huff ‘n’ Puff in Tight Oil Reservoirs Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology: Stimulation Measures and Mechanisms

Abstract

Summary CO2 huff ‘n’ puff is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique for tight/shale reservoirs, also enabling CO2 geological storage. However, the effectiveness of this method can be significantly affected by the aqueous phase resulting from connate water and hydraulic fracturing. The mechanism underlying the influence of the aqueous phase on oil recovery during CO2 huff ‘n’ puff, as well as the corresponding stimulation methods in such scenarios, remain unclear and warrant further study. To investigate this, we utilized a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument to track the movement of fluids during CO2 huff ‘n’ puff under water invasion conditions. The impact of the invaded aqueous phase on oil recovery was examined, and the impact of different treatment parameters was explored. The results show that the aqueous barrier formed by water invasion alters the pathway of CO2 diffusion to matrix oil. This alteration leads to a diminished concentration of CO2 in the oil phase, which, in turn, results in a substantial reduction in oil recovery. Consequently, the performance of CO2 huff ‘n’ puff is highly sensitive to the water phase. Nevertheless, the oil recovery dynamics in cyclic CO2 huff ‘n’ puff under water invasion exhibit distinctive patterns compared with those without water invasion. These differences manifest as notable low oil recovery in the first cycle, followed by a rapid increase in the second cycle. This behavior primarily arises from the expulsion of a significant portion of the invaded water from the macropores after the first cycle. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism is limited in micropores due to the challenging displacement of trapped water in such pores. Raising the injection pressure mainly boosts oil recovery in macropores, with minimal response in micropores. Yet, the achievement of miscibility does not lead to a substantial improvement in the CO2 huff ‘n’ puff performance, primarily due to the constraints imposed by the limited CO2 dissolution through molecular diffusion Additionally, we have proposed three stimulation mechanisms achieved by lengthening the soaking time under water invasion conditions. First, the prolonged soaking time increases the concentration of CO2 molecules that diffuse into the matrix oil. Second, it promotes the imbibition of the trapped water on the fracture surface into the deeper matrix to alleviate water blockage. Finally, the invaded water in macropores displaces oil in micropores by capillary force during the soaking period.