Fundamental studies on pore structure characterizatiion and multiphase flow in porous media with applications to oil recovery

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The focus of this research is to perform fundamental studies on pore structure characterization and multiphase flow in porous materials with applications to oil recovery. In Western Canada there are is lot of oil in reservoirs containing heavy oil and bitumen. In water resources, we have problems when an oil spill enters into water aquifer strata sub-surface, causing water pollution. The main objectives of this research are: 1) to develop new thermal oil recovery methods for the recovery of heavy oil and bitumen using horizontal injection and production wells that will more cost effective and will reduce the air and water pollution. It is proposed to use a "warm" vapour extraction scheme with co-injection of hydrocarbon solvents along with steam for improved oil recovery efficiency and rate of production; 2) to develop improved understanding of the pore-scale interfacial phenomena of the solvent-aided steam assisted gravity drainage (SA-SAGD) process. Developing a better understanding of interfacial phenomena at the pore-scale for different process conditions, the role played by the presence of heterogeneities in oil reservoirs with vuggy porosity and fractures will be quantified and better mathematical models will be made for predicting process performance; and 3) to advance the state of the art in a new technology developed in our laboratory that uses the injection of supersaturated water with CO2 to clean-up in-situ the oil spills in contaminated fresh-water aquifers and soils. Such oil spills usually result from leaky storage tanks on land (e.g., gasoline tanks) or accidental spills during transportation of hydrocarbons. The financial support of this research by NSERC will result in the training of 3 PhD degree and 3 or more Master's degree students. There is great potential to develop new and environmentally friendly technologies here in Canada with these research funds for proposed research. This will help create new jobs, better ways to recover the heavy oil and to reduce water pollution in contaminated sites and many socio-economic benefits to all Canadians.