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Enhancing CO2 Sweep Volume through Pressure Modulation in Heterogeneous Reservoirs: An Experimental Study
Kesheng Tan1,2,3, Lican Jiang1,2,3, Hongwei Yu2,4
1University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
ACS Omega
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Dynamic pressure modulation enhances carbon dioxide (CO2) flooding for improved oil recovery and storage in heterogeneous reservoirs. This method optimizes sweep efficiency and reduces gas channeling, boosting oil production.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Reservoir Engineering
- Geological Storage
Background:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) flooding offers dual benefits for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geological CO2 storage.
- Interlayer reservoir heterogeneity causes preferential CO2 channeling and poor sweep efficiency, limiting CO2-EOR applications.
- The role of dynamic pressure modulation in multiphase flow fields during CO2 flooding is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dynamic pressure modulation on CO2 sweep efficiency in heterogeneous reservoirs.
- To analyze the mechanisms of multiphase flow field intervention by pressure modulation.
- To provide experimental evidence for optimizing CO2-EOR injection strategies.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a heterogeneous two-dimensional visual physical model (high, medium, low permeability layers).
- Systematic conduction of constant-pressure and stepped pressure-modulation flooding experiments.
- Quantitative characterization of sweep dynamics using a high-precision real-time monitoring system.
- Analysis of the coupled response between displacement-front evolution and phase-behavior-related mass transfer.
Main Results:
- Increasing displacement pressure under constant-pressure mode improved sweep efficiency by suppressing gravity override and enhancing multicomponent mass transfer.
- Miscible flooding at 22 MPa increased the ultimate recovery factor by 12.2 percentage points compared to 15 MPa near-miscible flooding.
- Stepped pressure-increase strategy disrupted preferential flow channels, reconstructed the flow field, expanded sweep volume, and suppressed gas channeling.
- The stepped pressure strategy achieved a recovery factor of 73.8% and prolonged the high-efficiency oil production period.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic pressure modulation is effective in improving CO2 sweep performance in interlayer heterogeneous systems.
- Stepped pressure strategies offer advantages over constant-pressure modes by dynamically altering flow fields.
- This study provides valuable experimental data for optimizing CO2-EOR operations in heterogeneous reservoirs.
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