Role of Gas Type on Foam Transport in Porous Media

Journal article (2016)

Authors

Yongchao Zeng Rice University

R. Farajzadeh Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Reservoir Engineering -

A.A. Eftekhari Reservoir Engineering -

Sebastien Vincent-Bonnieu Shell Global Solutions International B.V.

Aarthi Muthuswamy Rice University

W.R. Rossen Reservoir Engineering -

GJ Hirasaki Rice University

SL Biswal Rice University

Research Group

Reservoir Engineering () (TU Delft)

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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Engineering

Research Group

Reservoir Engineering

Abstract

We present the results of an experimental investigation of the effect of gas type and composition on foam transport in porous media. Steadystate foam strengths with respect to three cases of distinct gases and two cases containing binary mixtures of these gases were compared. The effects of gas solubility, the stability of lamellae, and the gas diffusion rate across the lamellae were examined. Our experimental results showed that the steady-state foam strength is inversely correlated with the gas permeability across a liquid lamella, a parameter that characterizes the rate of mass transport. The results are also in good agreement with existing observations that the foam strength for a mixture of gases is correlated with the less soluble component. Three hypotheses with different predictions of the underlying mechanism that explain the role of gas type and composition in foam strength are discussed in detail.