Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Critical Review of Foamy Oil Flow

  • Published:
Transport in Porous Media Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

‘Foamy oil flow’ is a term coined to describe a form of two‐phase oil‐gas flow that appears to occur during solution gas drive in some heavy oil reservoirs and does not fit the classical models of two‐phase flow. Most of the evidence supporting the presence of this unusual flow mechanism is circumstantial and comes from attempts to explain much higher than expected well productivity and primary recovery factors in several heavy oil reservoirs. This paper is a review of the available literature on foamy oil flow in primary production of heavy oils under solution gas drive.

The mechanisms operating in solution gas drive in heavy oil reservoirs are briefly discussed. The issues related to supersaturation in oil phase, bubble nucleation, critical gas saturation, and relative permeability are discussed. The possible role of rate processes related to the release of solution gas and the formation of a segregated gas phase is reviewed. The pore‐scale mechanisms involved in creation and propagation of dispersed gas flow are discussed. Several published mathematical models of foamy solution gas drive are reviewed with focus on their limitations.

The review shows that the theoretical and experimental investigations of foamy oil flow are still in early stages. Although the occurrence of foamy oil flow has been verified in laboratory experiments, its existence at the reservoir scale has not been confirmed. The theoretical understanding of the mechanisms underlying foamy oil flow remains poor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abgrall, E. and Iffly, R.: 1973, Physical study of flow by expansion of dissolved gas (in French), Revue de L'Institut Franc¸ais du P´etrole 28(5), 667–692.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldea, G.: 1970, Mechanism of heavy oil recovery by dissolved gas expansion (in French), Revue de L'Institut Franc¸ais du P´etrole 25(12), 1403–1417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atchley, A. A. and Prosperetti, A.: 1989, The crevice model of bubble nucleation, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 86(3), 1065–1084.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baibakov, N. K. and Garushev, A. R.: 1989, Thermal Methods of Petroleum Production, Developments in Petroleum Science 25, Translated by W. J. Cieslewicz, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp. 6–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beattle, C. I., Boberg,T. C. and McNab, G. S.: 1991, Reservoir simulation of cyclic steam stimulation in the cold lake oil sands, SPE Res. Engng, pp. 200–206.

  • Bernath, L: 1952, Theory of bubble formation in liquids, Ind. Engng Chem., pp. 1310–1313.

  • Bikerman, J. J.: 1973, Foams, Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 89–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bora, R.: 1998, Cold production of heavy oil – an experimental investigation of foamy oil flow in porous media, PhD Dissertation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bora, R., Maini, B. B. and Chakma, A.: 1997, Flow visualization studies of solution gas drive process in heavy oil reservoirs using a glass micromodel, Paper SPE 37519 presented at the SPE Int. Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symp., Bakersfield, CA, Feb. 10–12.

  • Borregales, C. J.: 1979, Production characteristics and oil recovery in the Orinaco oil belt, 1st UNITAR Conf. on Heavy Crude and Tar Sands,Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, A. P. and Ross, S.: 1944, The measurement of foam stability, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 66, 1348–1356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callaghan, I. C. and Neustadter, E. L.: 1981, Foaming of crude oils: a study of non-aqueous foam stability, Chemistry and Industry 17, 53–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatenever, A., Indra, M. K. and Kyte, J. R.: 1959, Microscopic observations of solution gas drive behavior, J. Petrol. Technol., pp. 13–15.

  • Claridge, E. L. and Prats, M.: 1995, A proposed model and mechanism for anomalous foamy heavy oil behavior, Paper SPE 29243, Proc. Int. Heavy Oil Symp. Calgary, AB, June 19–21, pp. 9–20.

  • Clark, N. O.: 1947, A study of mechanically produced foam for combating petro fires, DSIR, Chemistry Research, Special Report No. 6, HMSC London, 1947.

  • Cole, R.: 1974, Boiling Nucleation, In: J. P. Hartnett and T. F. Irvine,Jr. (eds), Advances in Heat Transfer 10, Academic Press, New York, pp. 86–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. G., Mori, K. and Stone, C. R.: 1983, Behaviour of vapour bubbles growing at a wall with forced flow, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 26(10), 1489–1507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crum, L. A.: 1982, Nucleation and stabilization of microbubbles in liquids, Appl. Sci. Res. 38, 101–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danesh, A., Peden, J. M., Krinis, D. and Henderson, G.D.: 1987, Pore level visual investigation of oil recovery by solution gas drive and gas injection, Paper SPE 16956 presented at the 62nd SPE Annual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition, Dallas, TX, Sept. 27–30.

  • de Swaan, A.: 1991, Development of the critical gas saturation, J. Petrol. Technol., pp. 907–908.

  • Dumore, J. M.: 1970, Development of gas saturations during solution-gas-drive in an oil layer below a gas gap, SPE J., pp. 211–218.

  • Dusseault, M. B. and Rothernburg, L.: 1988, Shear dilatancy and permeability enhancement in oil sands, Paper No. 32 presented at the 4th UNITAR/UNDP Conf. on Heavy Crude and Tar Sands, Edmonton, AB, Aug. 7–12.

  • Elkins, L. F., Morton, R. and Blackwell, W. A.: 1972, Experimental fireflood in a very viscous oilunconsolidated sand reservoir, S. E. Pauls Valley Field, Oklahoma, Paper SPE4086 presented at the SPE Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 8–11.

  • ElYousfi, A., Zarcone, C., Bories, S. and Lenorman, R.: 1991, Mechanisms of solution gas liberation during pressure depletion in porous media, CR Acad. Sci. Paris, t. 313, S´erie II, 1093–1098.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, P. S. and Plesset, M. S.: 1950, On the stability of gas bubbles in liquid-gas solutions, J. Chem. Phys. 18(11), 1505–1509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ettinger, R. A. and Radke, C.: 1992, Influence of texture on steady foam flow in berea sandstone, SPE Res. Engng, pp. 83–90.

  • Firoozabadi, A. and Kashchiev, D.: 1996, Pressure and volume evolution during gas phase formation in solution gas drive process, SPE J. 1(Sept.), 219–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firoozabadi A., Ottesen, B. and Mikkelson, M.: 1992, Measurements of supersaturation and critical gas saturation, SPE Form. Eval., pp. 337–343.

  • Fisch, J. C., Hollomon, J. H. and Turnbull, D.: 1948, Nucleation, J. Appl. Phys. 19, 775–784.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handy, L. L.: 1958, A laboratory study of oil recovery by solution gas drive, Trans. AIME 213, 310–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, E. B.,Jr., and Berry, V. J.,Jr.: 1956, Evolution of gas from liquid flowing through porous media, AIChE J. 2(4), 560–567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamath, J. and Boyer, R. E.: 1993, Critical gas saturation and supersaturation in low-permeability rocks, Paper SPE 26663 presented at the 68th Annual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition, Houston, TX, Oct. 3–6.

  • Karyampudi, R. S.: 1993, Evaluation of cyclic steam performance and mechanisms in a mobile heavy oil reservoir at Elk Point thermal pilot, Paper CIM 93-48 presented at the CIM Annual Tech. Conf., Calgary, AB, May 9–12.

  • Kashchiev, D. and Firoozabadi, A.: 1993, Kinetics of the initial stage of isothermal gas phase formation, J. Chem. Phys. 98(6), 4690–4699.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, H. T. and Olson, R.: 1952, Bubble formation in supersaturated hydrocarbon mixtures, Trans. AIME 195, 271–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kortekaas, T. F. M. and van Poelgeest, F.: 1991, Liberation of solution gas during pressure depletion of virgin watered-out oil reservoirs, SPE Res. Engng, pp. 329–335.

  • Kovscek, A. R. and Radke, C. J.: 1994, Fundamentals of foam transport in porous media, In: L. L. Schramm (ed.), Foams: Fundamentals and Applications in the Petroleum Industry, Advances in Chemistry Series 242, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, W. P., McCaffrey, W. J. and Boyd, G. W.: 1993, Pseudo-bubble point model for foamy oils, Paper CIM 93-45 presented at the 44th Annual Tech. Conf. Petroleum Society of CIM, Calgary, AB, May 9–12.

  • Lebel, J. P.: 1994, Performance implications of various reservoir access geometries, Paper presented at the 11th Annual Heavy Oil & Oil Sands Tech. Symp., March 2.

  • Li, X.: 1993, Bubble growth during pressure depletion in porous media,PhDDissertation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, pp. 106, 113, 114, 158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. and Yortsos, Y. C.: 1991,Visualization and numerical studies of bubble growth during pressure depletion, PaperSPE22589 presented at the 66thSPEAnnual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition,Dallas, TX, Oct. 6–9.

  • Li, X. and Yortsos, Y.C.: 1993, Critical gas saturation: modeling and sensitivity studies, Paper SPE 26662 presented at the 68th SPE Annual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition, Houston, TX, Oct. 3–6.

  • Loughead, D. J. and Saltuklaroglu, M.: 1992, Lloydminster heavy oil production: why so unusual? Paper presented at the 9th Annual Heavy Oil and Oil Sand Symp., Calgary, AB, March 11.

  • Maini, B. B.: 1994, Foamy oil flow, teaching notes at the workshop for the members of Petroleum Recovery Institute, April 27.

  • Maini, B. B. and Ma, V.: 1984a, Laboratory evaluation of foaming agents for high temperature applications – I. Measurements of foam stability at elevated temperatures and pressures, Paper 35-07 presented at the 35th Annual Tech. Meeting of the Petroleum Society of CIM and the Canadian Association of Drilling Engineers, Calgary, AB, June 10–13.

  • Maini, B. B. and Ma, V.: 1984b, Relationship between foam stability measured in static tests and flow behavior of foams in porous media, Paper SPE 13073 presented at the 59th Annual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition, Houston, TX, Sept. 16–19.

  • Maini, B. B., Sarma, H. K. and George, A. E.: 1993, Significance of foamy-oil behavior in primary production of heavy oils, J. Can. Petrol. Technol. 32(9), 50–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maini, B. B., Sheng, J. J. and Bora, R.: 1996, Role of foamy oil flow in heavy oil production, Paper presented at the International Energy Agency (IEA) Workshop/Symp. on EOR, Sydney, Australia, Sept. 29–Oct. 2.

  • Maini, B. B., Sheng, J. J. and Nicola, F.: 1995a, Foamy oil flow – improved primary heavy oil recovery, Paper presented at the Annual Conf. and Exhibition of thePetroleum Recovery Institute, Calgary, AB, May 25.

  • Maini, B. B., Sheng, J. J. and Nicola, F.: 1995b, Laboratory investigation of foamy oil flow for improved primary production, Final Report to the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) (Sept.).

  • McBain, J.W. and Robinson, J. V.: 1949, Surface properties of oils, Natl. Advis. Comm. Aeronaut., Technical Note 1844.

  • McCaffrey, W. J. and Bowman, R. D.: 1991, Recent success in primary bitumen production, Paper No. 6 presented at the 8th Annual Calgary University et al. Heavy Oil & Oil Sands Tech. Symp., Calgary, AB, March 14.

  • Minssieux, L.: 1974, Oil displacement by foams in relation to their physical properties in porous media, J. Petrol. Technol., pp. 100–108.

  • Moulu, J. C.: 1989, Solution gas drive: experiments and simulation, J. Pet. Sci. Engng 2, 379–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulu, J. C. and Longeron, D. L.: 1989, Solution-gas drive: experiments and simulation, Proc. 5th European Symp. Improved Oil Recovery, Budapest, Hungary, pp. 145–154.

  • Platt, C. R. and Lewis, W. M.: 1969, Analysis of unusual performance indicates high solution-gasdrive recovery-stateline Ellenburger field, J. Petrol. Technol., pp. 1507–1509.

  • Plesset, M. S. and Prosperetti, A.: 1977, Bubble dynamics and cavitation, Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 9, 145–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, D. C. and Kisman, K.: 1992, Non-Newtonian effects on the primary production of heavy oil reservoirs, J. Can. Petrol. Technol. 31(7), 55–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridings, R. L., Dalton, R. L., Greene, H. W., Kyte, J. R. and Naumann, V. O.: 1963, Experimental and calculated behavior of dissolved-gas-drive systems, SPE J., pp. 41–48.

  • Ross, S.: 1967, Mechanisms of foam stabilization and antifoaming action, Chem. Engng Progr. 63, 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, S.: 1969, Bubbles and foams, Ind. Engng Chem. 61(10), 48–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, H. and Maini, B. B.: 1992, Role of solution gas in primary production of heavy oils, Paper SPE 23631 presented at the Second Latin American Petroleum Engineering Conf., Caracas, Venezuela, March 8–11.

  • Schramm, L. L. and Wassmuth, F.: 1994, Foams: Basic principles, In: L. L. Schramm (ed.), Foams: Fundamentals and Applications in the Petroleum Industry, Advances in Chemistry Series 242, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 3–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scriven, L. E.: 1959, On the dynamics of phase growth, Chem. Engng Sci. 10, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen, C. and Batycky, J. P.: 1996, Some observations of mobility enhancement of heavy oils flowing through sand pack under solution gas drive, Paper 96-27 presented at the 47th Annual Tech. Conf. Petroleum Society of CIM, Calgary, AB, June 10–12.

  • Sheng, J. J.: 1997, Foamy oil flow in porous media, PhD Dissertation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheng, J. J., Hayes, R. E., Maini, B. B., and Tortike, W.S.: 1996, A proposed dynamic model to simulate foamy oil flow in porous media, Paper SPE 36750, Proc. 71st SPE Annual Tech. Conf. Exhibition, Denver, CO, Oct. 6–9, pp. 687–699.

  • Sheng, J. J., Hayes, R. E., Maini, B. B. and W. S. Tortike: 1999, Modelling foamy oil flow in porous media, Transport in Porous Media 35, 227–258 (this issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheng, J. J. and Maini, B. B.: 1996, Foamy oil flow in primary production of foamy oil – A literature review, the Petroleum Recovery Institute Report 1995/96-7, pp. 2–10.

  • Sheng, J. J., Maini, B. B., Hayes, R. E. and Tortike, W. S.: 1994, Foamy oil flow – a review, Paper presented at the Int. Symp. Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering, Beijing, Sept. 14–17.

  • Sheng, J. J., Maini, B. B., Hayes, R. E. and Tortike, W.S.: 1995a, A non-equilibrium model to calculate foamy oil properties, Paper CIM 95-19 presented at the 46th Annual Tech. Conf. Petroleum Society of CIM, Banff, AB, May 14–17.

  • Sheng, J. J., Hayes, R. E., Maini, B. B. and Tortike, W. S.: 1995b, A proposed dynamic model for foamy oil properties, Paper SPE 30253, Proc. Int. Heavy Oil Symp., Calgary, AB, June 19–21, pp. 125–138.

  • Sheng, J. J., Maini, B. B., Hayes, R. E., and Tortike, W. S.: 1995c, Experimental study of foamy oil stability, Paper CIM 95-151 presented at the Sixth Saskatchewan Petroleum Conf. of the Petroleum Society of CIM, Regina, SK, Oct. 16–18.

  • Smith, G. E.: May 1988, Fluid flow and sand production in heavy oil reservoirs under solution gas drive, SPEPE, pp. 169–180.

  • Steffensen, R. J.: 1987, Solution-gas-drive reservoirs, Petroleum Engineering Handbook, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson TX, 37-1 o 37-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, C. R., Craig, F. F. and Morse, R. A.: 1953, Determination of limestone performance characteristics by model flow tests, Trans. AIME 198, 93–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, C. R., Hunt, E. B.,Jr., Schneider, F. N., Geffen, T. M. and Berry, V. J.,Jr.: 1954, The role of bubble formation in oil recovery by solution gas drive in limestones, Trans. AIME 201, 294–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szekely, J. and Fang, S. D.: 1973, Non-equilibrium effects in the growth of spherical gas bubbles due to solute diffusion – II, the combined effects of viscosity, liquid inertia, surface tension and surface kinetics, Chem. Engng Sci. 28, 2127–2140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szekely, J. and Martins, G. P.: 1971, Non-equilibrium effects in the growth of spherical gas bubbles due to solute diffusion, Chem. Engng Sci. 26, 147–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theofanous, T., Biasi, L., Isbin, H. S. and Fauske, H.: 1969, A theoretical study on bubble growth in constant and time-dependent pressure fields, Chem. Engng Sci. 24, 885–897.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, C. G. and Khurana, A. K.: 1971, Saturation: permeability relationships at low gas saturations, J. Inst. Pet. 57(557), 261–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, C. G. and Khurana, A. K.: 1972, The effect of rate pressure decline and liquid viscosity on low-pressure gas saturations in porous media, J. Inst. Pet. 58(564), 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, C. A., Johnson, W. R., Venter, R. D. and Ho, S.: 1983, Heterogeneous bubble nucleation and conditions for growth in a liquid-gas system of constant mass and volume, J. Appl. Phys. 54(4), 1833–1943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, C. A. and Levart, E.: 1984, Conditions for stability of bubble nuclei in solid surfaces contacting a liquid-gas solution, J. Appl. Phys. 56(2), 491–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, C. A., Tikuisis, P. and Venter, R. D.: 1982, Stability analysis in a closed volume of liquid of liquid-gas solution,J. Appl. Phys. 53(9), 6076–6084.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieland, D. R. and Kennedy, H. T.: 1957, Measurements of bubble frequency in cores, Trans. AIME 210, 122–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilt, P. M.: 1986, Nucleation rate and bubble stability in water-carbon dioxide solutions, J. Coll. Int. Sci., pp. 530–538.

  • Wit, K.: 1974, Solution gas drive in heavy oil reservoirs, Paper presented at the Symp. Heavy Oil Recovery, Maracaibo, July 1–3.

  • Yeung, K. C. and Adamson, M. F.: 1992, Burnt lake project – bitumen production from the cold lake oil sands deposit without steam, paper presented at the AOSTRA/CHOA Fueling the Future Conf., Calgary, AB, June 10–12.

  • Yortsos, Y. C. and Parlar, M.: 1989, Phase change in binary systems in porous media: application to solution gas drive, Paper SPE 19697 presented at the 64th Annual Tech. Conf. and Exhibition of SPE of AIME, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 8–11.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G7, Canada

    J. J. Sheng

  2. Petroleum Recovery Institute, Calgary, Alberta, T2L 2A6, Canada

    B. B. Maini

  3. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G6, Canada

    R. E. Hayes

  4. Mincom Pty Ltd., PO Box 72, Stones Corner, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 4120

    W. S. Tortike

Authors
  1. J. J. Sheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. B. Maini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. E. Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. S. Tortike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sheng, J.J., Maini, B.B., Hayes, R.E. et al. Critical Review of Foamy Oil Flow. Transport in Porous Media 35, 157–187 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006575510872

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006575510872

Search

Navigation