Experimental study and application on profile control using high-temperature foam

Through single-core and dual-core experiments, blocking and profile control capability of high-temperature foam were investigated. Experiment results indicate that with the increase of foam quality, the resistance factor reduces, and the best foam quality is 0.50. The resistance factor increases with permeability, and decreases with temperature. Co-injection of surfactant solution and gas is better than SAG injection. During the hot water reverse injection period, resistance factor decreased to 75, and then basically remained stable. Irreducible oil in sandpack can reduce blocking capability to some extent. When the permeability ratio is less than 6, the profile control effect is good. As the increase of permeability ratio, profile control effect decreases. High-temperature foam still has some profile control capability in sandpacks with irreducible oil. Foam in porous media can withstand reverse flow of water under high-temperature conditions. In site application for steam profile control using high-temperature nitrogen foam, oil production improvement and water cut decrease are obvious. This technology is useful for improving oil production in cyclic steam stimulated wells.

► High-temperature foam can reduce steam mobility.
► The effects on blocking property for high-temperature foam were researched.
► The effects on profile improvement for high-temperature foam were researched.
► It was applied in cyclic steam stimulated wells, achieving good effects.