Generalized Minimum Miscibility Pressure Correlation

Abstract

This paper presents a generalized correlation for predicting the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) required for multicontact miscible displacement of reservoir fluids by hydrocarbon, CO2, or N2 gas. The equations are derived from graphical correlations given by Benham et al.1 and give MMP as a function of reservoir temperature, C7+ molecular weight of the oil, mole percent methane in the injection gas, and the molecular weight of the intermediates (C2 through C6) in the gas. CO2 and N2 are represented in the current correlation by "equivalent" methane/propane- and methane/ethane-mixture injection gases, respectively. The study shows that for hydrocarbon systems, paraffinicity has an effect on MMP. In the equations, the C7+ molecular weight of the oil is corrected to a K factor of 11.95, thereby accounting for varying paraffinicity. An additional temperature effect on N2 MMP is related to the API gravity of the oil. The N2 correlation, however, is not tested against measured MMP data other than those used to develop the equation and should be used with care. A correlation that accounts for the additional effect on CO2 MMP caused by the presence of intermediate components in the reservoir oil is presented. Predicted MMP's from the correlations developed are compared to experimental slim-tube displacement data from the literature arid from our displacement tests on North Sea gas/oil systems. These displacement tests have been performed with a packed slim tube, where the effect of viscous fingering is reduced to a minimum.