Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation

Hydraulic fracturing has enabled production from unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., but production rates often decline sharply, limiting recovery factors to under 10%. This study proposes an optimization workflow for the CO<sub>2</sub> huff-n-puff process for multistage-fractured hor...

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Main Authors: Dung Bui, Duc Pham, Son Nguyen, Kien Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Fuels
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3994/5/4/37
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author Dung Bui
Duc Pham
Son Nguyen
Kien Nguyen
author_facet Dung Bui
Duc Pham
Son Nguyen
Kien Nguyen
author_sort Dung Bui
collection DOAJ
description Hydraulic fracturing has enabled production from unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., but production rates often decline sharply, limiting recovery factors to under 10%. This study proposes an optimization workflow for the CO<sub>2</sub> huff-n-puff process for multistage-fractured horizontal wells in the Wolfcamp A formation in the Delaware Basin. The potential for enhanced oil recovery and CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration simultaneously was addressed using a coupled geomechanics–reservoir simulation. Geomechanical properties were derived from a 1D mechanical earth model and integrated into reservoir simulation to replicate hydraulic fracture geometries. The fracture model was validated using a robust production history matching. A fluid phase behavior analysis refined the equation of state, and 1D slim tube simulations determined a minimum miscibility pressure of 4300 psi for CO<sub>2</sub> injection. After the primary production phase, various CO<sub>2</sub> injection rates were tested from 1 to 25 MMSCFD/well, resulting in incremental oil recovery ranging from 6.3% to 69.3%. Different injection, soaking and production cycles were analyzed to determine the ideal operating condition. The optimal scenario improved cumulative oil recovery by 68.8% while keeping the highest CO<sub>2</sub> storage efficiency. The simulation approach proposed by this study provides a comprehensive and systematic workflow for evaluating and optimizing CO<sub>2</sub> huff-n-puff in hydraulically fractured wells, enhancing the recovery factor of unconventional reservoirs.
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spelling doaj-art-c83f789bc4e24f20b6e3e2dbbb58daf62025-08-20T02:53:37ZengMDPI AGFuels2673-39942024-10-015467369710.3390/fuels5040037Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A FormationDung Bui0Duc Pham1Son Nguyen2Kien Nguyen3New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USANew Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USADepartment of Petroleum Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77023, USAOffice of Institutional Research, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USAHydraulic fracturing has enabled production from unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., but production rates often decline sharply, limiting recovery factors to under 10%. This study proposes an optimization workflow for the CO<sub>2</sub> huff-n-puff process for multistage-fractured horizontal wells in the Wolfcamp A formation in the Delaware Basin. The potential for enhanced oil recovery and CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration simultaneously was addressed using a coupled geomechanics–reservoir simulation. Geomechanical properties were derived from a 1D mechanical earth model and integrated into reservoir simulation to replicate hydraulic fracture geometries. The fracture model was validated using a robust production history matching. A fluid phase behavior analysis refined the equation of state, and 1D slim tube simulations determined a minimum miscibility pressure of 4300 psi for CO<sub>2</sub> injection. After the primary production phase, various CO<sub>2</sub> injection rates were tested from 1 to 25 MMSCFD/well, resulting in incremental oil recovery ranging from 6.3% to 69.3%. Different injection, soaking and production cycles were analyzed to determine the ideal operating condition. The optimal scenario improved cumulative oil recovery by 68.8% while keeping the highest CO<sub>2</sub> storage efficiency. The simulation approach proposed by this study provides a comprehensive and systematic workflow for evaluating and optimizing CO<sub>2</sub> huff-n-puff in hydraulically fractured wells, enhancing the recovery factor of unconventional reservoirs.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3994/5/4/37CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR huff-n-puffhydraulic fracturing simulationhydrodynamic–geomechanical coupled modelWolfcamp A formationoptimizing recovery of unconventional reservoir
spellingShingle Dung Bui
Duc Pham
Son Nguyen
Kien Nguyen
Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
Fuels
CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR huff-n-puff
hydraulic fracturing simulation
hydrodynamic–geomechanical coupled model
Wolfcamp A formation
optimizing recovery of unconventional reservoir
title Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
title_full Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
title_fullStr Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
title_full_unstemmed Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
title_short Simulation-Based Optimization Workflow of CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR for Hydraulic Fractured Wells in Wolfcamp A Formation
title_sort simulation based optimization workflow of co sub 2 sub eor for hydraulic fractured wells in wolfcamp a formation
topic CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR huff-n-puff
hydraulic fracturing simulation
hydrodynamic–geomechanical coupled model
Wolfcamp A formation
optimizing recovery of unconventional reservoir
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3994/5/4/37
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