Performance of Gel Treatments in Reservoirs with Multi-scale Heterogeneity

Abstract

Spatially correlated permeability fields are usually generated by single-scale correlation. To overcome the limitations of singlescalepermeability fields in describing real situation, permeability fields should be generated by multiscale correlation. Multiscaleheterogeneity results in the existence of various permeabilitymagnitudes and spatial distributions of permeability. Gel treatment isapplied on the heterogeneous permeability fields realized bymultiscale correlation. Performance of gel treatment has been shown todepend on permeability distribution and permeability values, which are determined by correlation length, variance, and number ofscales. Generally, spatially-correlated permeability fields generated with longer correlation length, higher variance, and multiscalelead to higher improvement in the performance of gel treatment. In addition, longer application of preflush as waterflooding resultsin larger reduction of water-oil ratio when the gel treatment is applied to heterogeneous permeability fields after preflush.