This paper presents results from an experimental study on formation damage associated with simulated produced oily water injection. Core flooding experiments were carried out with simulated produced oily water containing 40 to 500 ppm crude oil at 1-15 ppm solids (1-10 μm mean diameter) dispersed in brine. The formation damage along the length of a core was investigated and a number of parameters contributing to permeability decline were evaluated.

The results indicate that produced oily water containing oil droplets and solid particles can contribute to the permeability decline observed in the cores. The most severe decline occurred in the first 10-15 mm of the core. Oil droplets with a dimension significantly less than the pore throat diameter also led to permeability decline. The permeability alteration resulting from a combination of both oil droplets and solid particles is more severe than obtained from the systems individually.

Keywords:
permeability decline, upstream oil & gas, injection, water injection, waterflooding, diameter, enhanced recovery, size distribution, oil droplet, core plug
Subjects:
Formation Damage, Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Flow in porous media, Waterflooding
Copyright 1993, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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