Numerical Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis of Gas-Oil Gravity Drainage Process of Enhanced Oil Recovery

The oil recovery process is controlled by the rates of gas injection and oil production, relative permeabilities, reservoir heterogeneities and the balance among viscous, capillary and gravity forces. Crestal gas injection in horizontal, vertical or reef type oil reservoirs recovers significant volumes of the residual oil due to the gas-oil gravity drainage mechanism, indicating the significance of gravity forces. This study investigates the effects of the parameters that control the process (e.g., rate of the gas injection and oil production) and reservoir heterogeneities on the overall performance of immiscible gravity drainage enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Reservoir simulation studies are conducted to map effective combinations of these parameters with respect to the oil recovery performance.