Method of optimizing enhanced recovery of a fluid in place in a porous medium by front tracking
US7912686B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/20
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The method of the invention optimizes the development of a heterogeneous porous medium using enhanced recovery of a fluid by fast determination of position of a front separating a sweeping fluid and the fluid in the medium having application for development of oil reservoirs or gas. The velocity field of the front is determined only once with a flow simulator. A relation describing the position of the front in the heterogeneous medium is defined. Velocity fluctuations are accounted for in the direction of the front and the velocity fluctuations in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the front. For each time interval, the position of the front is reconstructed with a fast Fourier transform and injection of the sweeping fluid is optimized according to the position of the front.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.