Research Facilities

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Research Facilities

• EnCana-EORI
• Three-Phase Flow Laboratory
• M. Piri
• Assistant Professor of Chemical and Petroleum
  Eng.
• University of Wyoming

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Overview

• The state-of-the-art two- and three-phase core-
  flooding laboratory with a capability to measure
  in-situ saturations using a medical CT scanner.
• It will allow us to carry out two- and
  three-phase steady- and unsteady-state
  core-flooding experiments
• To measure, for instance, three-phase relative
  permeability
• To perform experiments in vertical orientation

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Core flooding equipment
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Medical CT scanner

• Tuned for petrophysical applications
• In-situ saturation measurements

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Lab. space
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Horizontally-oriented scanner
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Horizontally-oriented scanner (contd)
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Lab. space (Contd)

• Ceiling height 283 in.
• There are two walkway floors
• located at 83 and 166 in.
• above the ground
• There is a 5 Ton crane
• available in the lab

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Lab. space (Contd)
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Lab. space (Contd)
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Lead shielding
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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez

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A Realization of Berea Sandstone (Statoil)
12,349 pores and 26,146 throats with square,
circular or triangular cross-section.

• Porosity 24.02
• Clay Volume5.7
• Cube Size 3 mm3mm3mm

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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)

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Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

• Developed a fully parallel multi-threaded
  MPI-C code from scratch

• An example of oil invasion (drainage) in a
  single capillary tube initially saturated with
  water.
• Tube Dimensions
• Inscribed radius 14 microns
• Length 80 microns

• Clusters at EORI Harvard University

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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)
• Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
• In collaboration with Prof. Zuleima
  Karpyn (The Pennsylvania State University)

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Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
oil
oil
water

• Primary drainage
• 92.18mm (b) 88.46mm
• (c) 71.18mm (d) 56.63mm
• (e) 46.35mm (f) 37.85mm
• (g) 18.97mm (h) 14.06mm.

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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)
• Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
• In collaboration with Prof. Zuleima
  Karpyn (The Pennsylvania State University)
• Experimental studies of three-phase relative
  permeability
• Baharak Alamdari Prof. Tara LaForce
  (University of Wyoming)

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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)
• Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
• In collaboration with Prof. Zuleima
  Karpyn (The Pennsylvania State University)
• Experimental studies of three-phase relative
  permeability
• Baharak Alamdari Prof. Tara LaForce
  (University of Wyoming)
• CO2 Sequestration a pore-level approach
• In collaboration with Prof. Vladimir
  Alvarado (University of Wyoming)

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CO2 Sequestration a pore-level approach
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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)
• Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
• In collaboration with Prof. Zuleima
  Karpyn (The Pennsylvania State University)
• Experimental studies of three-phase relative
  permeability
• Baharak Alamdari Prof. Tara LaForce
  (University of Wyoming)
• CO2 Sequestration a pore-level approach
• In collaboration with Prof. Vladimir
  Alvarado (University of Wyoming)
• Thermodynamically consistent threshold capillary
  pressures for three-phase displacements
• In collaboration with Dr. Rink van Dijke
  and Prof. Ken Sorbie (Heriot-Watt University)

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Research activities

• Pore-scale network modeling of three-phase flow
• In collaboration with Prof. Martin J.
  Blunt (Imperial College) and Dr. Sander V.
  Sucimez
• Dynamic modeling of multiphase flow using
  Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
• Saeed Ovaysi (University of Wyoming)
• Network modeling of two-phase flow in fractures
• In collaboration with Prof. Zuleima
  Karpyn (The Pennsylvania State University)
• Experimental studies of three-phase relative
  permeability
• Baharak Alamdari Prof. Tara LaForce
  (University of Wyoming)
• CO2 Sequestration a pore-level approach
• In collaboration with Prof. Vladimir
  Alvarado (University of Wyoming)
• Thermodynamically consistent threshold capillary
  pressures for three-phase displacements
• In collaboration with Dr. Rink van Dijke
  and Prof. Ken Sorbie (Heriot-Watt University)

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Acknowledgements
We thank the sponsors for their generous support
of our research

• EORI
• EnCana
• State Facilities Match Initiative
• The Office of Academic Affairs, UW
• The Office of Research and Economic, UW

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Thank you!
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Quizix pulse free pumps
5000 series pump system for oil and brine
6000 series pump system for gas
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Three-phase core flooding system

• This is a flow system that is designed to perform
  two- and three-phase steady- and unsteady-state
  core-flooding experiments at high temperatures
  and elevated confining and pore pressures in
  order to measure steady- and unsteady-state two-
  and three-phase relative permeabilities. It
  allows simultaneous flow of three-phases through
  the core sample and all three phases can be
  re-circulated. It is fully integrated with an
  x-ray scanning system, for reliable measurements
  of in-situ fluid saturations during the
  experiments.

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Three-phase core flooding system (Contd)

• Eight-cylinder Quizix fluid pumping module
• Three-phase acoustically monitored separator
• Three accumulators
• Frame and high temperature oven to accommodate
  Quizix pumps, separator, accumulators and other
  components
• In-line high accuracy viscometers to measure
  viscosity of three phases with broad overall
  viscosity range
• High resolution absolute and differential
  pressure transducers

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Three-phase core flooding system (Contd)

• High accuracy automated confining pressure
  controller with all the necessary components and
  capabilities for safe and high quality operation.
• Computer interfaced high accuracy back pressure
  controller
• Control computer and automatic data acquisition
  system
• Control software system allowing for automatic
  routines, data logging, complete pump control,
  valve and system configuration, etc. It should
  allow for system operation in both manual and
  automatic modes.
• X-ray transparent graphite core-holder

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Three-phase core flooding system (Contd)

• Pore fluid and core-holder heating system with
  digital temperature controllers and other
  necessary components and capabilities for safe
  and high quality operation.
• Pore pressure system with Hastelloy tubing and
  fittings and inline filters before fluid
  re-enters pumping system
• Temperature measurement system for monitoring and
  logging temperature in different locations in the
  system via a computer controlled interface
• Automatic and manual valves, tubing and fittings