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Three-Phase Flow in Porous Media and
Computed Tomography,
Encana Research Laboratory
Page Links:
First Experiments |
Tour of the Construction Process
- Nine cylinder Quizix pump system
- Three in-line Cambridge viscometers
- Hastelloy wetted parts
- 10,000 psi & 140°C
- Three-phase acoustic separator
- Medical CT scanner to measure in-situ saturations (horizontal and vertical orientations)
- Steady-state experiments through vertically-placed rock samples (recirculation)
- Reservoir condition experiments
We have recently established a state-of-the-art reservoir condition two- and three-phase
core-flooding facility in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering of the
University of Wyoming (UW). The facility provides a combination of capabilities that makes
it, to the best of my knowledge, the only of its kind in the world. It includes a medical CT
scanner that can be rotated to the horizontal orientation allowing experiments through
vertically-placed rock samples. This will greatly reduce the gravity segregation effects
during the experiments. The scanner is then used to measure in-situ phase saturations and
saturation distribution along the core length. The flow system consists of the oil, brine and
gas pulse-free Quizix pumping system (six cylinders), differential pressure measurement
arrays (for multi-pressure-tap experiments), a three-phase acoustic separator, two Quizix
compensation cylinders for back pressure regulation, and three in-line Cambridge
viscometers. The flow system is capable of simultaneous injection and recycling of one,
two or three phases at reservoir conditions allowing both steady- and unsteady-state
core-flood experiments to be carried out. The x-ray imaging system includes a high energy
x-ray tube, power supply and highly sensitive detectors. The scanner can be configured to
perform dual energy scanning for three-phase saturation measurements. Confining pressure
is controlled by a Quizix cylinder that can automatically maintain a constant confining
pressure despite variations in the pore pressure during the experiments.
First Experiments
Gambier Limestone (Mount Gambier, Australia)
(Porosity = 55%, Permeability = 4000 mD)
Movie
Water saturations greater than 0.7
Net oil produced: (CT numbers)WF-(CT numbers)PD
Movie
This is what we started from (June 2006)
June 2006
February 2007
February 2007
May 2007
June 2007
June-July 2007
June-August 2007
August 2007
November 2007
December 2007
February 2008
Opening Ceremony (April 2008)
Spring 2008
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