Foam Assisted Air Injection (FAAI) for IOR at Hailaer Oilfield: Prospects and Challenges Available to Purchase

The Xi11-72 Block, located in Hailaer Oilfield, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, contains many ultra-low permeability (<2.0×10^-3µm²) oil reservoirs, with natural fractures. The reservoir temperature is 82°C; the original reservoir pressure is approximately 22.5 MPa; and the water-sensitive index of the reservoir is high (>0.7). Primary production and limited water flooding experience at adjacent Blocks have shown that the recovery factor in these reservoirs is very low due to lack of reservoir energy and poor water injectivity. Since 2009, Foam Assisted Air Injection (FAAI) has been proposed, in order to block natural fractures, maintain reservoir pressure and/or increase sweeping and displacement efficiency. A series of laboratory experiments have been conducted to study the oxidation kinetics of air/air foam with oil and the blocking and displacement efficiency of air foams in different oil sands. Reservoir simulation has also been carried out for predicting the reservoir response to foam assisted air injection and optimizing the injection process. Air injection pilot test started in the field since 23 April 2011 in a well group with 1 injector and 6 producers, using a Skid-mounted high pressure air compressor (40 MPa, 7 m³/min air rate). Oxygen breakthrough was observed (oxygen contents 3.7%) on 13 May 2011, and then assisted foam was injected to inhibit air breakthrough. Up to 30 June 2011, five foam slugs had been injected into the reservoir. The field results show that air injection can enhance injection capacity; assisted foam injection can inhibit air breakthrough effectively; and oil production can be significantly increased with water cut reduced by 4%. The detailed laboratory study, field experience and prospects and challenges analysis are presented in this paper.