An efficient response surface approach
for the optimization of ASP flooding processes
Luis E. Zerpa1, Néstor V. Queipo1, Salvador Pintos1, Edwin Tillero2
y David Alter2
1Instituto de Cálculo Aplicado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo 4005, Venezuela. Fax: 58.261.759.8411. Teléfono: 58.261.759.8411. lzerpa@ica.luz.ve
2Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Abstract
The EOR method so called alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding has proved to be effective in reducing the oil residual saturation in laboratory experiments and field projects through the reduction of interfacial tension and mobility ratio between oil and water phases. Two issues are critical for a successful ASP flooding project: i) addressing issues related to optimization of the laboratory design, and ii) establishing an optimal injection scheme for the field scale flooding process. This paper presents an efficient solution approach for the latter issue. The approach is based on the construction of quadratic response surface models (surrogates) of reservoir simulator outputs and three-level D-optimal design of experiments. It allows to effectively and efficiently establish the optimum ASP injection scheme, and was applied to determine the optimal values of injection rates, slug size and initial date for injection of an case study at pilot project level. The optimum injection scheme resulted in substantial savings in chemicals used when compared to the laboratory design.
Key words:
]]> Enhanced oil recovery, ASP flooding, optimization, surrogate modeling, reservoir simulation.Un enfoque práctico para la optimización de procesos de inyección de ASP usando modelos de superficie de respuesta cuadrática y diseño de experimentos
Resumen
Se ha demostrado en experimentos de laboratorio y experiencias de campo que el método de recuperación mejorada de petróleo por inyección de álcali, surfactante y polímero (ASP) es efectivo en la reducción de la saturación residual de petróleo, a través de la reducción de tensión interfacial y la relación de movilidad entre las fases acuosa y oleica. Dos aspectos críticos para el éxito de un proyecto de inyección de ASP son: i) la optimización de la formulación de ASP en laboratorio; y ii) la optimización del esquema de inyección a utilizar a escala de campo. Este trabajo presenta un enfoque eficiente para la solución del segundo aspecto. El enfoque se basa en la construcción de modelos de superficie de respuesta cuadrática a partir de la salida de un simulador de yacimientos y diseño de experimentos tipo D-óptimo. Esta metodología permite establecer de forma efectiva y eficiente el esquema de inyección de ASP óptimo, y fue utilizada para determinar la tasa de inyección, tamaño del tapón y fecha inicial de inyección de un caso de estudio a escala de proyecto piloto. El esquema de inyección óptimo reduce sustancialmente la cantidad de químicos utilizados al comparar con los sugeridos por el diseño de laboratorio.
Palabras clave:
Recuperación mejorada de petróleo, inyección de álcali-surfactante-polímero, optimización, modelos sustitutos, simulación de yacimientos.
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Recibido el 30 de Junio de 2007
En forma revisada el 31 de Julio de 2008