Application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Displacement Analysis and Imaging in Enhanced Oil Recovery

2. Gas injection – oil experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

3. Water flooding – oil experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

4. Oil injection – water experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

Case Study 1: Standard Core Gas Injection Experiment, Imaging:

 

Case Study 2: Standard Core Water Flooding Experiment, Dynamic Process Imaging Study

 

Original article source: https://www.nmranalyzer.com.cn/?p=645

 

Application Notes:

 

Recovery factor is a key indicator for evaluating oilfield development efficiency. It represents the proportion of oil that can be extracted from a reservoir under modern technological conditions within certain economic limits relative to the geological reserves.

The recovery factor depends on numerous variables, including natural conditions such as reservoir lithology, physical properties, heterogeneity, fluid characteristics, and drive mechanisms, as well as the development strategies employed during field exploitation. Globally, four major technological approaches have emerged to enhance recovery: chemical flooding, gas injection, thermal methods, and microbial EOR.
Most remaining oil reserves are located in challenging areas such as high-water-cut, low-permeability, heavy oil, high-temperature/high-salinity reservoirs, or highly heterogeneous carbonate fracture-cavity reservoirs. Conventional displacement agents are often insufficient for further recovery enhancement. With the continuous growth in energy demand driven by economic development, understanding the mechanisms of displacement agents is crucial for improving oil recovery and expanding swept volumes. Developing new, cost-effective, and efficient displacement agents has therefore become imperative.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology provides an intuitive way to visualise fluid distribution during core flooding experiments, offering significant insights into the mechanisms of displacement agents.

NMR Displacement Application Experiments:

 

1. Gas injection – water experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

2. Gas injection – oil experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

3. Water flooding – oil experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

4. Oil injection – water experiment: NMR imaging and analysis;

Case Study 1: Standard Core Gas Injection Experiment, Imaging:

 

Case Study 2: Standard Core Water Flooding Experiment, Dynamic Process Imaging Study

 

Original article source: https://www.nmranalyzer.com.cn/?p=645