The efforts for the application of micro bubble technology to CCS and EOR

Abstract

We have researched the effect of micro-bubble CO₂ injection and its mechanism toward the practical application of micro-bubble CO₂ injection technology into Carbon Capture and Storage（CCS）and Enhanced Oil Recovery （EOR）. In the first stage, we have carried out laboratory experiments and examined injection methods and developed tools as basic research.

In the second stage, a field pilot test was conducted using a part of the Sarukawa oil field in Akita prefecture in order to verify the microbubble injection effect and mechanism evaluated based on basic research. In the test, the Huff and Puff method was adopted, CO₂ injection for 10 days and flowback（production）for 7 days were carried out. The test is carried out by microbubble CO₂ injection method and conventional CO₂ injection method, and the test period is one month each.

In the field test, the functionality of the tool was confirmed, that easy retrievableness in the well with slick line or wire line, the stable microbubble generation and injection, and the effect of the microbubble was evaluated as the improvement of CO₂ injectivity and storability. From the simulation model constructed based on the field test results, the mechanism of improving CO₂ injectivity and storability was also evaluated.

From these tests, it was confirmed that the microbubble injection technology can be applied in the field