Hector Ngozi Akangbou
University of Salford, Uk
Title: Proactive control of water and gas coning in the Laboratory
Biography
Biography: Hector Ngozi Akangbou
Abstract
Water and gas coning occurring simultaneously is a well-known reservoir problem that negatively affect the overall recovery efficiency of oil reservoirs and early shut-in of wells. Coning is known to occur when viscous and gravitational forces are imbalanced in the reservoir due to high pressure drawdown. Coning, being a naturally occurring phenomenon cannot be completely avoided. However, in this study a physical model is used to investigate the efficiency of an electromagnetic-valve in controlling production of effluents from a homogeneous, non-fractured reservoir. The technique involves the use of a solenoid gate-valve mounted with an adjustable timer at the outlet of the horizontal well. This idea is based on the principle of density segregation and breakthrough times for water and gas aimed at boycotting the production of effluents as much as possible, especially at the early stage of oil production. The lowest calculated breakthrough time for water or gas will be preferred and pre-set on the solenoid gate-valve but slightly lower to ensure neither water nor gas is produced. The solenoid gate-valve will close almost immediately at the set-time thereby shutting oil production temporarily, causing the water and gas height levels to recede by gravity and density. The process will be repeated until no more oil can be produced. The oil recovery efficiency of this technique at different GOC, WOC, bottom water and gas drive intensities will be presented, analysed and compared with a similar physical simulation, in terms of Water-Oil-Ratio without an electromagnetic gate-valve but at same production time-step.