Phase relations of miscible displacement in oil recovery

• Published in: AIChE journal 1961-03, Vol.7 (1), p.64-72
• Main Authors: Hutchinson Jr, C. A., Braun, Philip H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.690070117

Miscible displacement as an oil recovery process has received wide interest in the literature recently. Essentially three basic processes have been proposed for attaining miscible displacement in our oil reservoirs: high pressure gas, enriched gas, and miscible slug processes. The present paper relates and compares the phase relations and mass transfer mechanisms of these various basic miscible displacement processes. It also discusses the effects of the various operating variables, such as pressure, temperature, injected gas composition, etc., on the applicability of the process and considers the pertinent conditions that restrict the application of each process. It is to be recognized that at times a miscible displacement may be attempted but not attained, or unforeseen conditions may destroy miscibility once it has been attained. The authors discuss the results of such conditions. The mechanisms of the miscible displacement processes are explained in a conceptual analysis based on the triangular phase diagram. Although the multicomponent reservoir fluid system cannot be represented rigorously from a thermodynamics standpoint by these diagrams, they are useful for cenceptual analysis. Their limitations are presented by the authors along with data supporting the concepts developed.