Laboratory Study of Miscible Carbon Dioxide Flooding of UAE Carbonate Oil Reservoirs Available to Purchase

This laboratory study describes the technical feasibility of applying CO₂ miscible flooding in a major field in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The field section considered is a low permeability carbonate that had so far poorly responded to water flooding.

The study had two major aspects, phase behavior and core flooding. In phase behavior, the field's petroleum was studied with its minimum miscibility pressure with CO₂ determined. Also, asphaltene precipitation due to CO₂ injection was measured and included in the phase behavior model. In core flooding, detailed rock characterization was carried out using SEM, EDS, and ICP. Thereafter, core floods were carried out to evaluate the additional recovery from miscible CO₂ injection and the optimum CO₂ slug sizes. Core floods were also used to evaluate recoveries from different initial saturations, for less than miscible conditions, and for side effects such as asphaltene precipitation, sulfur deposition, and effect of CO₂ on the limestone rock.