Simulation of Gravity Override in Foam Processes in Porous Media

Summary Foam can improve sweep efficiency in gas-injection improved-oil-recovery processes. The success of continuous-injection foam processes in overcoming gravity override in homogeneous, anisotropic (kx ≠ kz), radial or rectangular reservoirs depends on a single dimensionless number first proposed by Stone and Jenkins for gas flooding without foam. Their model fits foam-simulation results remarkably well over a wide range in reservoir properties and geometry, flow rates, foam quality and strength, initial reservoir pressure, and model for the mechanisms of foam collapse. This approach leads to optimal design strategies for such processes. Limitations on injection-well pressure may make it impossible, however, for a continuous-injection foam process to suppress gravity override in some cases. The possibility of gravity override within the foam bank should be considered in evaluating foam propagation in field trials of foam processes.