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Dynamic simulation study on gas flooding mechanism based on level set method at the micro-nano scale.
Yi Yu1, Fei Wang1, Xiaorong Guo1
1College of Electromechanical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology Shandong Qingdao 266061 PR China wangfeiupc@163.com.
RSC Advances
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Microscopic gas flooding mechanisms for enhanced oil recovery were simulated. CO2 miscible and foam flooding achieved the lowest remaining oil, outperforming N2 and immiscible CO2 flooding.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is vital for maximizing hydrocarbon extraction.
- Microscopic mechanisms of gas flooding, particularly interfacial phenomena, require further elucidation.
- Simulating complex porous media interactions is key to understanding EOR processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the microscale oil displacement mechanisms of various gas flooding techniques.
- To analyze the impact of operational parameters on oil recovery efficiency.
- To elucidate the interfacial changes driving oil displacement in porous media.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a realistic geometric model of porous media for microscale simulations.
- Employed the level-set method to accurately track oil-gas interfaces during flooding.
- Conducted dynamic simulations to analyze pressure, velocity, and remaining oil variations.
Main Results:
- N2 and immiscible CO2 flooding left approximately 30% remaining oil.
- CO2 miscible and foam flooding reduced remaining oil to about 10%.
- Optimal foam flooding occurred at a 3:1 gas-liquid ratio and 0.02 surface tension, yielding the lowest residual oil.
Conclusions:
- CO2 miscible and foam flooding demonstrate superior oil displacement efficiency compared to N2 and immiscible CO2.
- Injection rate and foam properties significantly influence EOR performance.
- Understanding microscale interfacial dynamics is crucial for optimizing gas flooding strategies.
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