Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Permeability of High Viscosity Hydrocarbons in Porous Media

Crude oil is formed when living organisms such as plankton and algae sink to the ocean floor and become trapped underneath layers of sediment, where extreme temperature and pressure breaks the biomass down into its constituent hydrocarbons over millions of years. As the oil forms, the denser and more viscous particles sink to the bottom of the agglomerated biomass, forming heavy-oil and bitumen deposits with significant amounts of asphalt, resinous, and paraffin components. Studies show that the cost of extraction of such crudes from seams and transport them via oil-field equipment and pipelines to refineries is significantly higher than that of light oil, specially when production is conducted in colder climates. Since the viscosity of heavy-oil decreases with increasing temperature, heat treatment of heavy-oil systems is considered as a possible way to improve their flow properties. Application of conventional thermal treatments such as steam injection or addition of surfactants and depressants have been considered to be technologically effective methods for alteration of hydrocarbon viscosity in conventional reservoirs. However, the recovery of heavy-oil from nonconventional reservoirs such as shale or formations with high carbonates content requires more advanced techniques. It is well-known that electromagnetic waves penetrate deeply into rock formations and therefore can be effectively used to for heating and enhancing the recovery of heavy-oil systems. This presentation details the results of a capstone design project to build a low-cost laboratory setup in order to study the effectiveness of electromagnetic radiation in changing the viscosity and enhancing the permeability of heavy-oil.  The testing setup included a cylindrical flow chamber filled with glass beads simulating the porosity of rock formation. Paraffin was used as the high-viscosity hydrocarbon which exists in solid phase at room temperature. Fluorescent microspheres were infused with paraffin to enhance the visibility of fluid flow during video microscopy. The infused paraffin mixture was placed in the flow chamber atop of the glass beads. A commercially available microwave was used as the electromagnetic generator to heat up the system. The electromagnetic heating mechanism was turned on and the paraffin began to melt. The melted paraffin flew in between glass beads and into a collecting tray in the bottom of the chamber. The flow rate of paraffine was recorded by measuring of the velocity of fluorescent microspheres diffusing with the melted paraffine. The evolution of permeability of paraffine with electromagnetic radiation was determined by measuring the weight of paraffine passed through the pores between glass beads and collected at the bottom. The alteration of viscosity with time and intensity of electromagnetic radiation was determined by comparing the recorded fluid flow and the simulations resulted from a finite element analysis. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to assess the economic rationality of enhanced oil recovery by electromagnetic radiation.