Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) mapping of remaining oil distribution during sequential rate waterflooding processes for improving oil recovery

At the conclusion of waterflooding phase, significant volume of oil still remains in reservoir formations. In this paper, waterflooding was performed at a designed sequential rate mode with an aim to further reduce the remaining oil saturation (Sor). Waterflooding process was monitored continuously by a low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer attempting to map pore-scale displacing behaviors and also quantify the reduction in Sor in-situ. The results showed that the main pore size of the cores ranged from 1.6 μm to 63.0 μm inferred by T2 (transverse relaxation time) distributions. The value of Sor in the cores increased towards the outlet face during waterflooding because of capillary end effect, which became more significant for heavy oil. At the termination of this waterflooding process, Sor was found to be further reduced by approximately 5.0% in the presence of thief water pathways as a result of the improved viscous forces. Water fingering and capillary imbibition effects were clearly visualized in the NMR images. These observations are expected to be useful for heavy oil waterflooding operations especially in post-breakthrough phase.