CO₂ Geostorage and Enhanced Oil Recovery: Challenges in Controlling Foam/Emulsion Generation and Propagation.

Area of Science:

• Geosciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering

Background:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection in subterranean reservoirs for storage or enhanced oil recovery is hindered by CO2's high mobility.
• Utilizing CO2 foam or emulsions increases apparent viscosity, mitigating mobility issues.
• Challenges in foam generation and propagation within porous media impact economic feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors causing delays in CO2 foam generation and propagation.
• To identify the underlying mechanisms influencing foam behavior in porous media.
• To evaluate mitigation strategies for accelerating foam formation and improving CO2 storage efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of CO2 foam and emulsion behavior during injection into subterranean reservoirs.
• Investigation of parameters affecting foam generation, including surfactant adsorption and porous medium characteristics.
• Evaluation of formulated foams and emulsions under optimized injection processes.

Main Results:

• Surfactant adsorption on rock surfaces contributes to delayed foam formation.
• Porous medium nature and morphology can be dominant factors in foam generation and propagation.
• Appropriately formulated foams/emulsions and optimized injection processes significantly accelerate foam generation.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the mechanisms of foam generation delay is crucial for effective CO2 storage.
• Porous medium properties and surfactant interactions are key factors influencing foam stability.
• Optimized foam formulations and injection strategies can overcome existing challenges, enhancing CO2 storage efficiency.