Steps and challenges in empirical foam modeling for enhanced oil recovery

Implicit texture/empirical foam model is one of the most commonly used approaches for enhanced oil recovery; however, a comprehensive set of standard steps of a foam simulation study is not yet introduced. In this paper, a practical package consisting of different methods/steps has been compiled. In addition, their strengths, weaknesses, and challenges are described. This paper has shown that surfactant formula can have a substantial impact on probability of micro-emulsion (ME) creation or rock curves alteration during foam injection. Depending on the severity of surfactant influence on rock and fluid properties, capillary pressure and relative permeability curves should be modified or viscosity model should be corrected in the case of ME formation. This review has studied distinct approaches for the modification of rock curves or the correction of viscosity in the presence of ME. From a review of literature, foam flood experiments can be carried out in distinct media. Foam behavior, however, in core flood experiments resembles more the foam performance in reservoir condition. Various well-known algorithms for obtaining foam model parameters are explained and compared here. Based on differences between experimental conditions and pilot tests, up-scaling simulation parameters, including foam model and adsorption coefficients, are described extensively. Because media permeability has a significant effect on foam model parameters, it is also shown here that considering more than one foam model for simulation can increase the precision of results.