Design and analysis of different models of microfluidic devices evaluated in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) assays

Abstract

Microfluidic devices are a new platform for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) assays. A successful oil recoveryin a reservoir can be different in another, hence the importance of a methodology for assessment prior toinjection. In the current study, micro and nanotechnology techniques were applied to develop EOR assays.The EOR chips simulated the phenomena occurred in micro-nano scale reservoirs. In general, the first step ofthe experiments corresponded to fill the microchannels with oil, then was injected water at constant flow rateuntil oil recovery ceases and finally was injected polymer or CDG. The recovery behaviors of the fluids werestudied by digital image analysis. Results allowed obtaining oil recovery for each evaluated fluid. Theoptimum configuration of the microchannels showed 80% of oil residual saturation after water injection.Keywords: EOR, poral volume, microgels and polymers, microfuidic devices.