ABSTRACT
This study presents a semi-analytical model of combined injection of hot water and chemical in a linear homogeneous medium. The model takes into account lateral heat losses and horizontal heat conduction for two phase flow with surfactant travelling in the water phase only. Using the correlations available in the literature, the model considers the dependence of the chemical adsorption on temperature, and the relative permeabilities variation with temperature and interfacial tension. The physical dispersion of the chemical and the change of heat capacities and densities with temperature were assumed to be negligible.
The reduction in interfacial tension between aqueous and oelic phase, combined with an Increased mobility achieved at high temperatures was shown to enhance the recovery efficiency of a standard hot water flooding process. The sensitivity of the recovery process with different cases of heat transfer was investigated. The results show that neglecting lateral heat losses and horizontal conduction overestimates the recovery, while neglecting horizontal conduction leads to an underestimation of the oil recovery.
