Mobility reduction caused by CO2 foams that are "stable" or "unstable" in the bulk phase was studied in Berea sandstone and San Andres carbonate outcrop cores at l00°F and 2000 psi. Depending on hydrophilicity, some surfactants led to foams having a favorable dependence on permeability and oil saturation whereas another did not. Foam mobility was found "shear thinning" at high flow rates and "shear thickening" at low rates. Bubble coalescence was investigated in relation to snap-off, transport and trapping.

Keywords:
mechanism, foam mobility, injection, flow in porous media, fluid dynamics, saturation, snap-off time, coalescence time, foam, viscosity
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Flow in porous media, Chemical flooding methods
Copyright 1989, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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