Tarek Hamida

MSc 2006

Currently with ARC

Research topic: "Effect of Ultrasonic Waves on Multiphase Flow in Porous Media"

Thesis

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Tarek's research focuses on the effects of high frequency sound waves on multiphase in porous media and oil recovery. His work can be divided into two parts: (1) Static (capillary) imbibition experiments, and (2) Dynamic (injection) experiments. 

A series of capillary imbibition experiments under ultrasound were conducted on sandstone plugs using a focused ultrasonic beam. The aim is to identify the governing mechanisms and clarify the relative effects of them on ultimate recovery and production rate. Capillary imbibition is a very gentle process that is primarily dominated by interfacial tension, wettability and fluid density. The absence of viscous forces makes it a suitable experiment for highlighting the effect of ultrasound on interfacial forces. During the process, the wetting fluid percolates along the pore walls, and invades the smallest pores. As a consequence, the non-wetting phase is forced into adjacent pores. Ultrasonic energy enhances the capillary imbibition recovery of oil for different fluid pairs. The air-water experiments showed less amount of water-imbibed water when ultrasound is applied. Trapped bubble oscillation and acoustic dispersion were considered possible reasons for this. 

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LEFT: Imbibition cell used in the experiment and RIGHT: Experiments conducted with (inside the bath) and without ultrasonic effect. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEFT: Ultrasonic generator and horns, and RIGHT: Hele-Shaw experiments inside the ultrasonic bath. 

The ultrasonic energy is expected to change rock and liquid properties as well as liquid-liquid, liquid-rock, and gas-liquid interactions. This will eventually cause an improvement in the oil flow yielding faster and higher oil recovery. To clarify the alterations in the interfacial forces under ultrasonic waves, Hele-Shaw experiments were conducted. Some snapshots are shown below. 

 

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LEFT: Viscous fingering during mineral oil displacement by pentane with (US) and without ultrasonic energy (NUS), and RIGHT: Viscous fingering during mineral oil displacement by water with (US) and without ultrasonic energy (NUS).

 

 

Publications:

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1. Babadagli, T., Hatiboglu, C. U. and Hamida, T.: “Evaluation of Matrix-Fracture Transfer Functions for Counter-Current Capillary Imbibition,” Transport in Porous Media, in print, 2009. 

2. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Fluid-Fluid Interaction during Miscible and Immiscible Displacement under Ultrasonic Waves,” European Phy. Jour. B, vol. 60, no. 4, 447-462, 2008. 

3. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Immiscible Displacement of Oil by Water in Consolidated Porous Media due to Capillary Imbibition under Ultrasonic Waves,” J. of the Acoustical Soc. of America, vol. 122 (3) Sept. 2007, 1539-1555. 

4. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Analysis of Capillary Interaction and Oil Recovery under Ultrasonic Waves,” Transport in Porous Media, 70 (2), 2007, 231-255. 

5. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: "Displacement of Oil by Different Interfacial Tension Fluids under Ultrasonic Waves," Coll. and Surf. A: Physicochemical and Eng. Aspect, vol. 316, 176-189, March, 2008. 

6. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Effects of Ultrasonic Waves on the Interfacial Forces between Oil and Water,” Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (as a Short Communication) (in print) 2007. 

7. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Investigations on Capillary and Viscous Displacement under Ultrasonic Waves,” Technical Note, J. of Canadian Pet. Tech., Feb. 2006, 16-19. 

8. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: "Effects of Ultrasonic Waves on Immiscible and Miscible Displacement in Porous Media," SPE 95327, 2005 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exh., Dallas, TX, 9-12 Oct., 2005. 

9. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Investigations on the Capillary Interaction of Different Oleic and Aqueous Phases between Matrix and Fracture Under Ultrasonic Waves,” SPE 94105, SPE EUROPEC / EAGE Annual Conf., 13-16 Jun 2005, Madrid, Spain. 

10. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Effect of Ultrasonic Waves on the Capillary Imbibition Recovery of Oil,” SPE 92124, SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conf. and Exh., 12 - 14 April 2005, Jakarta, Indonesia. 

11. Hamida, T. and Babadagli, T.: “Investigations on Capillary and Viscous Displacement under Ultrasonic Waves,” Paper No. 2005-132, CIM 56th Annual Technical Meeting, Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, Canada, 7-9 June 2005 (extended abstract). 

12. Babadagli, T., Hatiboglu, C. U. and Hamida, T.: “Evaluation of Matrix-Fracture Transfer Functions for Counter-Current Capillary Imbibition,” SPE 92111, SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conf. and Exh., 12 - 14 April 2005, Jakarta, Indonesia. 

13. Babadagli, T. and Hamida, T.: “Multiphase Flow in Porous Media Under Ultrasonic Waves,” The Stanford-Herriot-Watt Reservoir Description and Modeling Forum, Tiburon, CA, USA, Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 2005. 
     

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