Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Petroleum Engineering

First Advisor

Hadi Jabbari

Abstract

This research establishes methane infusion improved oil recovery (MI IOR) as a technically viable and economically attractive early-stage intervention for unconventional reservoirs. Integrated multi-scale investigations included quantum molecular theory, nanoscale characterization, NMR experimentation, and field scale reservoir simulation. FEG-SEM analysis of core samples enabled development of a peer-reviewed pore size classification system informing MI operational design parameters. Integrated well logging quantified petrophysical properties across the Bakken stratigraphy. NMR relaxometry identified the lab-scale pore-level sweep efficiency of MI at 3,750 psi in Bakken core samples. Mobilization of hydrocarbons from Np1, Np2, and Np3 pores yielded recovery factors of 45-60%. Field-scale reservoir simulation of MI 1-Cycle and 4-Cycle revealed that volatile alkanes (C1-C4) and medium-to-heavy liquid fractions (C8-C36) achieved well lifetime production increases of 13.5-14.8%. Intermediate hydrocarbon fractions (C5-C7) showed dual-phase partitioning, with vapor-phase recovery increasing 16.4-20.5% and liquid-phase production rising 3.8-11.7%. These findings validate multi-contact miscibility and molecular diffusion as primary displacement drivers. Well lifetime gas utilization factors of 0.543 Mscf/STB (1-Cycle) and 1.337 Mscf/STB (4-Cycle) outperform industry metrics. The commercial economics of MI 1-Cycle is demonstrated by $3.80 PW-10 gain per CAPEX dollar invested and incremental cost of $4.64 in CAPEX per new barrel. MI IOR represents a capital-efficient pathway and a de-risked entry point for advancement to field pilot testing.

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