Comprehensive laboratory investigation of polymer-enhanced foam in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Stefan Iglauer: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8080-1590
Abstract
Foam flooding in oil reservoirs offers benefits for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. However, stable foam injection is challenging due to the high velocity requirements for foam and difficulties with regeneration. Polymers can enhance foam stability at low gas velocities. This study evaluates polymer-free foam (PFF) and polymer-enhanced foam (PEF) using coreflooding experiments under high temperature, salinity, and pressure with varying gas and foam flow rates. Various surfactants and polymers were tested under high salinity and temperature to develop polymer-free and polymer-enhanced foams. Bulk tests were conducted, including foamability and foam stability in the presence of crude oil. To study foam dynamics in porous media, coreflooding tests were utilized with UAE reservoir crude oil. Coreflooding experiments with carbonate outcrops assessed foam stability, CO2 storage potential, and oil recovery under high temperature (95°C), salinity (105,000 ppm), and pressure (1500 psi) conditions in the presence of oil. Thermal stability and salinity tolerance tests showed that ATBS-based polymers, as well as anionic and zwitterionic surfactants, exhibit the desired stability. Bulk foam tests indicated that PEF has greater stability, thicker lamellae, and a more uniform bubble-size distribution in the presence of crude oil. Coreflooding tests investigated how the injection of two foam formulations differs from pure CO2 injection. The PEF showed higher DP and apparent viscosity, superior stability, and better shear resistance than the PFF, particularly at varying velocities. Overall, PEF achieved an oil recovery of 68.4% and an impressive CO2 storage capacity of 83.5%, compared to just 28.3% for CO2 injection without foam. Coreflooding tests using Indiana limestone demonstrated enhanced foam stability at 95°C, 105,000 ppm salinity, and 1500 psi back pressure. PEF significantly improved both oil recovery and CO2 storage in challenging conditions. This study uniquely provides a comprehensive laboratory investigation of the PEF technique, examining both bulk and dynamic characteristics in the presence of oil. It employs coreflooding studies to offer valuable insights into the behavior of PEF for EOR and CO2 storage.
Keywords
sedimentary rock, fluid dynamics, geology, sustainability, carbonate rock, geologist, flow in porous media, sustainable development, oil recovery, rock type
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
School
Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources
Funding Information
The authors wish to acknowledge Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) for providing funding for this research (RIG-2023-036) and the RICH Center (RC2-2019-007).
Copyright
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Comments
Mushtaq, M., Mumtaz, M., Al-Shalabi, E. W., Machale, J., Karanikolos, G., & Iglauer, S. (2026, April). Comprehensive laboratory investigation of polymer-enhanced foam in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions [Conference paper]. SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, OK, United States. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/231453-MS