A Laboratory Study of Aqueous Colloidal Gas Aphrons for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications

• Author / Creator

  Samuel, Shivana R

• Aqueous colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) have previously been used as drilling fluids because of their pore blocking ability which significantly reduces formation damage. The aim of this study is to generate aqueous colloidal gas aphrons, to examine its stability and rheology as well as to investigate its suitability as an enhanced oil recovery fluid.

  Different polymers and surfactants were tested to create the most stable aphrons. To determine the optimum formulation; (aphron) bubble size over time, bubble size distribution over time and fluid rheology were examined.

  To determine the CGA fluid suitability for enhanced oil recovery applications, experiments were conducted using a visual cell and radial cell filled with porous media. Flooding experiments were performed using the CGA fluid as well as other comparable fluids. The pressure drop, total recovery data and breakthrough time were measured for both cells while time lapse images were taken for the visual cell.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Colloidal gas aphrons
  • Enhanced oil recovery
  • Petroleum engineering

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3G689

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.