Visualization of Chemical Heavy Oil EOR Displacement Mechanisms in a 2D System

This study aims to develop a visual understanding of the macro-displacement mechanisms associated with heavy oil recovery by water and chemical flooding in 2D system. The sweep efficiency improvements water, surfactant, polymer, surfactant-polymer (SP) were evaluated Hele-Shaw cell no local pore-level trapping fluids. results demonstrated that displacement performance is highly correlated mobility ratio between Surfactant reached similar values at ratios; however, they exhibited different flow patterns system—reductions IFT can lead formation emulsions alter pathways, but absence porous media these do not significant recovery. Polymer displayed more stable front higher reduction viscous fingering. Oil SP was achieved mostly polymer rather than due effect surfactant. surfactant slug washed out residual swept zone without increasing area. shows impact on reducing saturation water-swept zones, overall still controlled injection polymer. provides insight into fluid behavior diverging paths, as opposed linear core floods have limited pathways. visualization bulk liquid interactions types fluids might assist screening process for new chemicals aid testing production process.