The main objective of this study is to understand the vertical sweep efficiency with miscible CO2-water-coinjection as a secondary recovery method, from multiple perspectives: phase behavior, total relative mobility, fluid densities/viscosities, the driving forces and consequent phase distributions etc. We also seek to provide insights into modeling approaches for representing the injection process by comparing compositional simulation results to those of the fractional-flow method and the model of Stone and Jenkins ( Stone, 1982 ; Jenkins, 1984 ).

We combine compositional simulation and analytical models to interpret the dynamics that affect vertical sweep efficiency in miscible CO2-water-coinjection. Stone’s model for gravity segregation at steady state predicts three phase-distribution zones: mixed zone, override zone and underride zone. In addition to these three zones, we identify from simulations an extended mixed zone and extended override zone in miscible CO2-water-coinjection, contributing to additional oil recovery and CO2 trapping. The extended zones are a result of dispersion that reflects physical and numerical dispersion in the gas-oil displacement front. To the extent that it reflects numerical dispersion, the extended zones can be considered as a numerical artifact.