Date

2021-9

Author

Kaya, Onur Alp

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The dynamics of fluid flow in the matrix and in the fractures are significantly different from each other. Fractures are highly permeable flow pathways and are generally considered as the main flow unit. On the other hand, the matrix occupies most of the porous medium’s volume and is considered as the main storage unit. The main objective of this thesis is numerical modeling of water flooding experiments in artificially fractured and gel-treated core plugs. MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST) is used to create the numerical models. Three main cases, namely non-fractured core plug, fractured core plug, and polymer gel treated core plugs, were created by using MRST. 2 PV water injection into these core samples simulated by using MRST. Additional 2 PV water was injected after polymer gel treatment operation for artificially fractured core plugs. Hydrocarbon recovery vs. time plots, as well as 3-dimensional fluid saturation profiles, are obtained. Standard Buckley-Leveret solution is used to validate the model, and Embedded Discrete Fracture Network (EDFM) was used to model the fractures. Results of the numerical models were compared with the results of core flooding experiments. During the experiments, results are obtained and recorded after 2 PV water injections, and for the polymer gel treated core plugs, 2 PV additional water was injected after the operation, and results were recorded again. Models and simulations are done to represent the core flooding experiments described. The non-fractured core plug oil recovery after 2 PV water injections was found to be 42.5% and 42.8% experimentally and with an MRST solution. For the artificially fractured core plugs, oil recovery was increased from 28.87% to 42.85% in experiments and from 28.87% to 40.83% in MRST solution after polymer gel operation. Similarly, in experiments, 8.16% and in MRST model 7.07% increase in the mean water saturation observed after polymer gel treatment. Additional oil recovery was observed in both experiments and in the MRST model after the polymer gel operation. In addition, how fracture permeability and aperture affect recovery was also investigated. When the fracture permeability is constant, fracture aperture directly affects the hydrocarbon recovery for the low aperture values. Similarly, when the fracture aperture is constant, fracture permeability directly affects recovery for the high values.

Subject Keywords

Fluid flow, Fractures, Reservoir modelling, Polymer gel

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/93024

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis