Research makes inquiries into electron paramagnetic resonance as means for enhanced oil recovery
A joint paper by Kazan Federal University and Tyumen Industrial University saw light in Fuel.
Despite the fact that electromagnetic heating processes have been known since the middle of the last century, the nature of the interaction of the electromagnetic field with heavy oil components has not yet been studied. In one of the latest studies, scientists of the Center for Liquid Hydrocarbons used the competence of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy group of the Institute of Physics of KFU to study the mechanisms of electromagnetic field effects on the properties of heavy oil from the Bazhenov Formation.
The advantages of the nondestructive EPR method, discovered in Kazan in 1944 by Evgeny Zavoysky, include cost-effectiveness, efficiency and high accuracy of experimental data. In addition, a new task was set to study oil-containing samples from the Bazhenov Formation with low vanadyl content, which prompted scientists to apply EPR spectroscopy to study the mechanisms of hydrocarbon transformation. The value of 50 Hz is due to the fact that the lower the frequency of the electromagnetic wave, the greater the depth of its penetration into the oil-containing medium.
"It is known that the effect of electromagnetic waves on reservoir fluids significantly increases the filtration-capacitance properties of the formation and reaction rates of decomposition of heavy oil. In turn, the change in the fractional composition of heavy oil with a decrease in molecular weight promotes the formation of light hydrocarbons and additional oil recovery. In other words, with this technique of low-frequency electromagnetic influence, heavy oil is modified into light, less viscous oil, which is much easier and more efficient to extract from various fields," comments Junior Research Associate Fadis Murzakhanov.
This methodology was implemented at the Ust-Balyk field of Yuganskneftegaz. Tests were also conducted at wells of Ishimbay field of Bashneft, Sugushlino and Mordovo-Karmalsk bitumen deposits of Tatneft. As a result, the effect of volumetric heating of the formation within a radius of more than 10 m in the bottomhole zones of the formations was obtained. In the course of experiments on pulsed electric influence on productive formations, the technology has proved itself in bottomhole formation zones in fields in Russia, Kazakhstan and Brazil.
"We plan to further develop our important cooperation with colleagues from Tyumen Industrial University to conduct experiments on oil samples from other Russian fields with different mass content of asphaltene and sulfur," adds Murzakhanov.
Today, Volgakhimexport Research and Production Association LLC is actively engaged in refining and introducing electric reservoir treatment technology into oilfield practice. The methodology has proven itself in the course of experiments on pulsed electric impact on productive formations, the results of which testify to the technology's promising potential.
More information:
Conventional and high-field pulsed EPR experimental studies on Bazhenov oil formation under the influence of 50 Hz electromagnetic field
www.sciencedirect.com/science/ … ii/S0016236122034044
Provided by Kazan Federal University