An Approach to Assessing the Effectiveness of Nitrogen Injection for Water Blocking and Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

In the modern oil and gas industry, where efficiency and environmental safety play a key role, technologies aimed at optimizing production and minimizing environmental impact are particularly important. One such technology is a method for blocking water breakthrough with nitrogen to enhance oil recovery, based on AWACT (Anti-Water Coning Technology). This paper examines the basic principles, mechanisms, and methods for its effective application at oil field facilities. Laboratory filtration studies using a recombined oil sample confirmed that nitrogen injection can not only effectively combat water breakthrough but also contribute to increased oil production by changing the direction of water filtration and smoothing the inflow profile. The paper also developed a method for hydrodynamic modeling of AWACT technology, which was adjusted to the laboratory test results, allowing the optimal injection volume for horizontal wells to be determined: 300,000 m³ of nitrogen. This volume is sufficient to achieve significant results without excessive economic costs.