An Imbibition Phenomenon in Kirkuk Tertiary Reservoir, Research Review and Future Suggested Solutions
The Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Tishk International University organized a National Workshop titled An Imbibition Phenomenon in Kirkuk Tertiary Reservoir, Research Review and Future Suggested Solutions, hosted on May 11th, 2023. The workshop was presented by Dr. Abdulhakeem M. Ramadhan, the Head of the Petroleum Engineering Department – Fields Division at the North Oil Company in Kirkuk.
Section 1: The first session covered the Kirkuk tertiary reservoir, a fractured rock matrix with porous blocks. Oil production occurs from fractures and the matrix, creating water-filled voids at the oil/water contact and gas-filled voids at the gas/oil contact. Imbibition, the only way to recover oil trapped under water, is slow and influenced by temperature. The session provided an overview of experimental work, imbibition cell design, and study results.
Section 2: The second session addressed challenges in water flooding and improving oil recovery in fractured carbonate reservoirs that hold the majority of the world’s oil reserves. Wettability challenges are caused by fractured and oil-wet conditions, but research focuses on altering wettability through chemical methods like surfactants and temperature-induced changes. A suggested study aims to model spontaneous imbibition in Kirkuk Tertiary Reservoir cores using numerical results with lab data and evaluate key variables.
The workshop facilitated valuable discussions and scientific ideas, enabling participants to learn more about the imbibition phenomenon in the Kirkuk Tertiary Reservoir. The Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering is dedicated to fostering knowledge and innovation in oil engineering, and this workshop represents a step forward in that direction.
