Petroleum Engineering Commons^™

Correlation Anaylsis Of Magnesite Dissolution Rate And Magnesite Spatial Distribution, Yao Wang

Masters Theses

"This thesis presents a correlation analysis of the spatial distribution and permeability of magnesite dissolution and focuses on its overall rate and average porosity. Magnesite dissolution is affected by several aspects.

A reservoir's large spatial distribution can make capturing the magnesite dissolution difficult, so in this study, a variogram was built in Petrel using a percentage variation of magnesite and sand. The variogram also handles different major and minor directions in anisotropy. After building the magnesite model, simulation of magnesite dissolution was achieved in Cruch Flow to get the magnesite dissolution rate and average porosity.

For correlation analysis, a regression …

Application Of The Variational Fracture Model To Hydraulic Fracturing In Poroelastic Media, Chukwudi Chukwudozie

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing has persisted through the use of simple numerical models to describe fracture geometry and propagation. Field tests provide evidence of interaction and merging of multiple fractures, complex fracture geometry and propagation paths. These complicated behaviors suggest that the simple models are incapable of serving as predictive tools for treatment designs. In addition, other commonly used models are designed without considering poroelastic effects even though a propagating hydraulic fracture induces deformation of the surrounding porous media. A rigorous hydraulic fracturing model capable of reproducing realistic fracture behaviors should couple rock deformation, fracture propagation and fluid flow in the both …

Impacts Of Rock-Brine Interactions On Petrophysical Properties Of A Sandstone Reservoir, Utilizing Geochemical And Pore Network Modeling, Masoud Safari-Zanjani

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Unfavorable consequences of geochemical reactions, such as calcite and silica scaling, in geothermal power plant surface facilities have been discussed in many recent studies. However, the impact of brine-rock interactions related to geothermal projects on reservoir properties has not been addressed fully. In this study, interactions between geothermal fluid and reservoir rocks in two fields located in Vermilion Parish, LA, and Chocolate Bayou, TX, are examined using geochemical modeling. The studied reservoir belongs to the Frio formation. In the geochemical models, the brine is cooled down to the estimated output temperature of a geothermal heat exchanger and re-equilibrated. Then, brine-rock …

Application Of The Finite Element Method To Solve Coupled Multiphysics Problems For Subsurface Energy Extraction, Milad Ahmadi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fractures are a source of extra compliance in the rock mass. Fracture compliance can estimate the fracture roughness and the type of fluid filling the fracture. The focus of this research study in chapter 2 is to illustrate how the compliance ratio of rough fractures can diverge from the compliance ratio of smooth fractures. The imperfect interface of the fracture is modeled with saw-tooth-like structures. The defined saw-tooth-like structures of contact asperities impose an in-plane asymmetry in the shear direction. The compliance ratio of the rough fracture is larger than the compliance ratio of the smooth fracture. Interlocking and riding …

Commercialization Of Cobalt Promoted Molybdenum Disulfide Hydrodesulfurization Unsupported Catalyst, Juan Hilario Leal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Catalysis is a key player in the petroleum refining process. Our focus is primarily on the improvement of a commercial HDS (HydroDeSulfurization) hydrotreating catalyst. The commercial catalyst sold today is cobalt promoted molybdenum supported on γ-alumina. Our aim is to work with Porocel Industries LLC to produce an unsupported, cobalt promoted, molybdenum disulfide catalyst by improving on previous work conducted by Dr. Brenda Torres. The catalysts (B3&B5) developed by Dr. Torres were reported to be highly active on real feedstocks and were produced via hydrothermal process. Oxidic Mo, and H2S were used to make an ammonium tetrathiomolybdate precursor that was …

A Numerical Investigation Of Wellbore Stability Problems Using An Elastoplastic Model, Chang Huang

LSU Master's Theses

Wellbore stability analysis acts an important role in the drilling design to avoid pipe-stuck, lost circulation and the other instability-induced problems. However, the conventional linear elastic model used by the industry is too conservative in predicting the mud weight window. This project is aimed at improving the accuracy of wellbore stability analysis. An elastoplastic model with Drucker-Prager yield criterion featured by strain hardening is proposed to characterize the rock behavior. Object-oriented finite element analysis simulator, NSMOOM, is programmed in MATLAB. The simulator is verified with the analytical solution in the elastic domain and with the commercial software ABAQUS in the …

Modeling Churn And Annular Flow Regimes In Vertical And Near-Vertical Pipes With Small And Large Diameters, Erika Viana Pagan

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents an improved model for gas-liquid two-phase flow in churn and annular flow regimes for small- and large-diameter in vertical and near-vertical pipes. This new model assumes that a net liquid film moves upward along the pipe wall and gas phase moves upward, occupying the majority of the central part of the pipes, and forming a gas core, in both flow regimes. The model is validated using field and laboratory experimental data from several different studies from the literature, in terms of pressure along the wellbore or bottomhole pressure for field conditions (for high-pressure flows in long pipes, …

Stress Corrosion Cracking Evaluation Of Carbon Steel In Biodiesel And The Effect Of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (Unsm) On 304 Stainless Steel, Josh Geyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The project that was performed was stress corrosion cracking (SSC) of carbon steel in biodiesel, petroleum diesel and a mixture. The project also included the effect of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) on 304 stainless steel. It included the assembly of a slow strain rate (SSR) machine and carrying out testing using the SSR machine. The assembly of the machine will require purchasing and building a stand to house the electrical equipment which includes the computer, actuator control panel and the actuator power supply. The assembly will also include designing and purchasing the connections to connect the actuator to the …

A Petrophysical Evaluation For Permeability Of A Gas Reservoir In The Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, Musa Cetin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The goal of this study was to evaluate permeability and study the controls on permeability in a gas saturated formation. Conventional well logs, mineral identification crossplots and empirical models were applied to analyze different lithologic and diagenetic features and to examine the effect that these features may have on the reservoir. An unusual feature was observed, and required detailed examination: there existed (in two wells) five zones of lower resistivity (higher water saturation) above the gas-water contact. This is unexpected, as above that contact, the water is usually at irreducible water saturation. I conclude that the lower resistivity (the higher …

Modeling Gas Inflow For Extremely Low Permeability Shale Using Cfd, Chatetha Chumkratoke

Doctoral Dissertations

"Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to model 2-D well inflow over a range of permeabilities to study the impact of various well completion strategies (Augustine, 2011). Augustine's 2-D model was subsequently extended for 3-D flow by Thepporprapakorn (2013), for gas flow in the permeability range of tight gas (0.01 mD).

This work presents a 3-D CFD model of gas inflow valid for extremely low ranges of permeability (0.00001 mD). In extremely low permeability, gas flow is complex and includes flow from fractures, flow through porous media, and diffusive gas transport. Diffusive gas transport is important when strong density …

Modeling Explosive Lensing On A Cylindrical Body In Air: A First Step Towards Sealing An Underwater Offshore Oil Spill, Phillip R. Mulligan

Doctoral Dissertations

"In 2010, the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon accident leaked oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days. A fast response method that can seal an oil pipe and stop the release of oil is needed in order to prevent future oil leaks from turning into ecological and financial disasters. Explosives can serve this need.

This research examined how a circular implosive discontinuous explosive lens interacts with a cylindrical surface. The following research was designed to study the applicability of the Method this author developed to predict the peak pressure from multiple shockwaves converging on a centrally located cylinder. …

Development And Evaluation Of A Coaxial Cable Sensing System For Co₂ Sequestration Wellbore Integrity Monitoring, Yurong Li

Doctoral Dissertations

"Downhole monitoring plays a crucial part in geological carbon dioxide (₂) sequestration. Various downhole monitoring technologies have been explored and applied, but they are either expensive or have system longevity issues. To address this issue, a robust and cost-effective downhole sensing system based on distributed coaxial cable sensors is developed and evaluated in laboratory, and a numerical simulation with staged finite element model is conducted to study the feasibility of using the coaxial cable sensing system for monitoring and evaluation of wellbore stability during CO₂ injection.

The real-time distributed sensing system is composed of Fabry-Perot interferometer based …

Analysis And Mitigation Of Wellbore Breakout And Fracturing, Reza Rahimi

Doctoral Dissertations

"Mechanical wellbore integrity problems while drilling are mainly due to wellbore shear failure or tensile failure. To ensure wellbore integrity, breakout and fracture geomechanical analysis is conducted to estimate minimum and maximum drilling fluid densities. Currently, there is no agreement as to which rock failure criterion to use for estimating breakout or fracture criteria to use for analyzing drilling induced fractures. However, when wellbore integrity issues arise while drilling, mitigation strategies can be applied to rectify these problems.

This dissertation analyzes criteria for wellbore breakout and fracturing. Also, mitigation strategies for breakout and fracturing while drilling were experimentally investigated. Thirteen …

Design And Analysis Of Geothermal Wellbore Energy Conversion System Working On Zero Mass Withdrawal Principle, Ildar Akhmadullin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This project is sponsored by the Department of Energy of the United States and dedicated to development of electricity production from the low-enthalpy geothermal reservoirs. The prime interest are reservoirs that are characterized by low temperature of heat source located in deep saline aquifers with high permeable rock. Usually energy production from these resources are not economical by using a conventional binary power plant approach. The presented PhD work is a study of a new system that utilizes a single-well technology and working on supercritical power cycle (PC). The wellbore energy conversion system is operating with Zero Mass Withdrawal (ZMW) …

การแตกสลายสีย้อมโดยใช้ไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์ภายใต้การส่องสว่างด้วยแสงอาทิตย์, สุนิติ ไทยเจียมอารีย์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาอิทธิพลของตัวแปรต่างๆและหาภาวะที่เหมาะสมต่อประสิทธิภาพการแตกสลายสีย้อมรีแอคทีฟเรด 120 (RR120) ผ่านกระบวนการเร่งปฏิกิริยาเชิงแสงบนตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์เชิงพาณิชย์ (Com TiO2) ตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์สังเคราะห์ (Syn TiO2) และตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์สังเคราะห์เจือไนโตรเจน (N-TiO2) ภายใต้การส่องสว่างด้วยแสงอาทิตย์ โดยตัวแปรที่ศึกษา ได้แก่ ระยะเวลาการฉายแสง ชนิดตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์ แหล่งไนโตรเจน ปริมาณไนโตรเจน ปริมาณตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยา ความเข้มข้นเริ่มต้นของสีย้อมรีแอคทีฟเรด 120 และค่าความเป็นกรดด่าง จากผลการทดลองพบว่าภายใต้การฉายแสงอาทิตย์นั้นตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์เชิงพาณิชย์ไม่สามารถแตกสลายสีย้อมได้ ในขณะที่ตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์สังเคราะห์และตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์สังเคราะห์เจือไนโตรเจนร้อยละ 10 โดยน้ำหนัก สามารถแตกสลายสีย้อมได้ แต่จะพบว่าตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาไทเทเนียมไดออกไซด์สังเคราะห์เจือไนโตรเจนด้วยกัวนิดีน คาร์บอเนต ร้อยละ 10 โดยน้ำหนัก มีประสิทธิภาพในการแตกสลายสีย้อมได้ดีในทุกภายใต้การฉายแสง ที่ปริมาณตัวเร่งปฏิกิริยาเท่ากับ 5 กรัม สารละลายสี 1 ลิตรที่ความเข้มข้นเริ่มต้น เท่ากับ 100 มิลลิกรัมต่อลิตร และค่าความเป็นกรดด่างเท่ากับ 3 จากนั้นทำการศึกษาแบบจำลองจลนพลศาสตร์ของกระบวนการเร่งปฏิกิริยาเชิงแสงพบว่าสอดคล้องกับแบบจำลองแลงเมียร์-ฮินเชลวูด (Langmuir-Hinshelwood model) โดยแบบจำลองนี้สามารถอธิบายรูปแบบการเกิดปฏิกิริยาได้เป็นสองกระบวนการจากสองค่าคงที่ คือ ค่าคงที่การดูดติด (KLH) และค่าคงที่อัตราการเกิดปฏิกิริยา (kLH)

Modeling Of Gas Production From Shale Reservoirs Considering Multiple Transport Mechanisms, Chaohua Guo, Mingzhen Wei, Hong Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gas transport in unconventional shale strata is a multi-mechanism-coupling process that is different from the process observed in conventional reservoirs. In micro fractures which are inborn or induced by hydraulic stimulation, viscous flow dominates. And gas surface diffusion and gas desorption should be further considered in organic nano pores. Also, the Klinkenberg effect should be considered when dealing with the gas transport problem. In addition, following two factors can play significant roles under certain circumstances but have not received enough attention in previous models. During pressure depletion, gas viscosity will change with Knudsen number; and pore radius will increase when …

Experimental Study And Numerical Simulation Of Hydraulic Fracturing Tight Sandstone Reservoirs, Chaohua Guo, Jianchun Xu, Mingzhen Wei, Ruizhong Jiang

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Unconventional tight sandstone reservoirs have been developed during recent years and a large number of multi-stages fractured horizontal wells have been drilled to stimulate reservoir performance. However, fluid flow in low permeability porous media no longer obeys Darcy's law and instead conforms to low-velocity non-Darcy flow. Most commercial numerical simulation software for multi-stage fractured horizontal well development may cause inaccuracy in simulating performance of tight sandstone reservoirs. In this paper, the investigation of existing conditions of low velocity non-Darcy flow for oil flow in irreducible water saturation tight sandstone cores was conducted and discussed through lab-experiments. And existence of low …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Nitrogen Injection In Turner Valley, Igor Koracin

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Turner Valley gas and oil field was discovered in 1913 and it was one of the main plays that sparked the growth of the petroleum industry in Canada. The Turner Valley formation is a Mississippian reservoir located at a mean depth of 7,546 feet. It is a heavily faulted field, 25 miles in length with an average width of 2 miles and is located 30 miles south-west of Calgary. It is an asymmetric anticlinal structure cut by the y axis with parallel thrust and normal faults.

Due to its early inception and the lack of resource development regulations, Turner …

Modifying Fracture Conductivity Testing Procedures, Kent Blair

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Fracture conductivity testing is a measure of how proppant will perform downhole when injected. The current American Petroleum Institute (API) procedure for conductivity testing produces results that are difficult to replicate. In one case three commercial labs tested the same sample of proppant, the results varied between labs and the highest spread in data had an 80% variation (Anderson, 2013). The goal of this thesis is to investigate cell loading procedures that reduce the variation in laboratory results.

A variety of cell loading techniques were tested including Hoke cylinder injection, guar injection, and cell vibration. Hoke cylinder loading was determined …

Oil Recovery In Low Temperature And Salinity Reservoir Rock Using Anionic And Anionic/Cationic Surfactant Formulations, Alec D. Bokhart, Ryan Mulvenna, Bryan Boudouris, Rituraj Borgohain, Cliff Johnston

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

As oil reserves are being depleted in the United States, there is an increasing need to recover the trapped oil in the reservoir rock which accounts for up to 60% of the total oil available. This oil may be recovered using chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. In our case study, we investigated viable EOR surfactant/polymer formulations for conditions conducive to high efficiency oil recovery in ultra-low salinity, low temperature, and high hardness reservoirs. Formulations were screened for Winsor Phase I (microemulsions) or Winsor Phase III (bicontinuous emulsions),: both of which are conducive to high efficiency oil recovery. Strong emulsion …