Ahmed Tunnish - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ahmed Tunnish

Tunnish, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Systems Engineering, has p... more Tunnish, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Systems Engineering, has presented a thesis titled, Study of Ionic Liquids as Effective Solvents for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery, in an oral examination held on December 16, 2016. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material.

One of the most successful enhanced oil recovery techniques, nowadays, is chemical (Alkaline/Surf... more One of the most successful enhanced oil recovery techniques, nowadays, is chemical (Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer) flooding and modeling the experimental results of these experiments is one of the most difficult challenges. For that, this study has been conducted to obtain the history matching of the laboratory scale results employing STARS. Some of the chemical flooding experiments have been done to get additional RF. We noticed that the most challenging factors throughout building up the models were the pure polymer viscosity and oil-water relative permeability curves. Also, a fair range of assumptions was made to address the unavailability of any information and adjust the particular values to end up with a successful match of cumulatively produced oil, water cut, oil cut, and pressure drop curves. Finally, understanding how to model the chemical flooding performance in laboratory scale will develop the possibility of simulating chemical floods in industrial scale. Keywords—CMG-STA...

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2018

At present, chemical flooding is one of essential enhanced oil recovery methods. In this study, t... more At present, chemical flooding is one of essential enhanced oil recovery methods. In this study, three core flooding experiments (brine flooding, Alkaline, and Alkaline + Ionic Liquid slug flooding) were selected for history matching using CMG-STARS. Depending on the composition of the chemical slug, two pore volumes were injected into the porous medium to enhance the RF of heavy oil (14° API). We observed that the most challenging part of building up the model was relative permeability curves. So, the relative permeability values were tuned to end up with a successful match of cumulatively produced oil and water cut. Finally, history matching is significant to apply a wide range of assumptions and upscale the experimental results.

Journal of Management Science & Engineering Research, 2019

The prediction of formation pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients is a significant step t... more The prediction of formation pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients is a significant step towards the drilling plan. In this study, the formation pressures of twelve wells from NC98 field-Sirte Basin (Waha Oil Company) were calculated by employing empirical methods, Eaton's equations, that depend on the real drilling and well-logging data. Regarding the results, the normal pore pressure in the NC98 field in Sirte basin is 9.89 kPa/m (0.437 Psi/ft), and it is extending from the top of the wells in the investigated area to 2134 m (7,000 ft). A subnormal to normal pore pressure zone is noticed in the interval of 2134 m to 2743 m (7,000 ft. - 9,000 ft). Then, slightly subnormal to somewhat abnormal (overpressure) region is seen from 2743 – 3414 (9,000 ft. - 11,200 ft). Beyond to that depth and down to the top of the reservoir, the overpressure zone was clearly observed. Based on the results, the casing seating depth and the equivalent mud weight were simply determined for the ...

Journal of Management Science & Engineering Research, 2019

Surfactant/alkali flooding is one of the best chemical flooding methods to enhance the oil Recove... more Surfactant/alkali flooding is one of the best chemical flooding methods to enhance the oil Recovery Factor (RF). In this research, Ionic Liquid/Alkali (ILA) mixtures were chosen to represent a form of chemical flooding experiments. The selected Ionic Liquids (ILs), {[EMIM][Cl], [THTDPH][Cl], [EMIM][Ac], [BzMIM][Cl], [DMIM][Cl], [BzMIM][TOS], [dMIM][TOS] and [MPyr][TOS]}, were introduced to investigate their efficiency in improving heavy oil (14o API) RF from the sand packs. Besides, the use of mixtures of the same ionic liquids and brine (3.37 wt. % salts) with an alkali (Sodium Bicarbonate [NaHCO3]) were also investigated. In this experimental study, the flooding process started with injecting about 3.2 Pore Volumes (PVs) of only brine, followed by one PV of the chemical composites, and flushed with two PVs of formation brine. The study discussed the influence of cation type, anion type, the structure of the ILs, and the effect of combining ILs/alkali on the RF. The results reveale...

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2018

† This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been ... more † This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas, 2017

Recent studies show that Ionic Liquids (ILs) have the ability to improve oil recovery. In this ex... more Recent studies show that Ionic Liquids (ILs) have the ability to improve oil recovery. In this experimental study, an imidazolium-based Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]), was used to extract heavy oil (14 °API) from unconsolidated packed sand samples. The RTIL was injected as slug, with different concentrations and sizes. The [EMIM][OAc] results were compared with the efficiency of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][Tf 2 N]) and 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([DMIM][Cl]) ILs. The results indicate that the efficiency of IL depends mainly on the type of IL. A comparison with a well-known commercial surfactant (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, SDS) was performed, and the results confirmed the higher efficiency of the ionic liquids. Changes in Interfacial Tension (IFT), Surface Tension (SFT), and Zeta Potential (ZP) in the solution supported the recovery factor results. Finding the optimum concentration and slug size are significant factors in making the oil extraction process more economical.

Tunnish, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Systems Engineering, has p... more Tunnish, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Systems Engineering, has presented a thesis titled, Study of Ionic Liquids as Effective Solvents for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery, in an oral examination held on December 16, 2016. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material.

One of the most successful enhanced oil recovery techniques, nowadays, is chemical (Alkaline/Surf... more One of the most successful enhanced oil recovery techniques, nowadays, is chemical (Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer) flooding and modeling the experimental results of these experiments is one of the most difficult challenges. For that, this study has been conducted to obtain the history matching of the laboratory scale results employing STARS. Some of the chemical flooding experiments have been done to get additional RF. We noticed that the most challenging factors throughout building up the models were the pure polymer viscosity and oil-water relative permeability curves. Also, a fair range of assumptions was made to address the unavailability of any information and adjust the particular values to end up with a successful match of cumulatively produced oil, water cut, oil cut, and pressure drop curves. Finally, understanding how to model the chemical flooding performance in laboratory scale will develop the possibility of simulating chemical floods in industrial scale. Keywords—CMG-STA...

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2018

At present, chemical flooding is one of essential enhanced oil recovery methods. In this study, t... more At present, chemical flooding is one of essential enhanced oil recovery methods. In this study, three core flooding experiments (brine flooding, Alkaline, and Alkaline + Ionic Liquid slug flooding) were selected for history matching using CMG-STARS. Depending on the composition of the chemical slug, two pore volumes were injected into the porous medium to enhance the RF of heavy oil (14° API). We observed that the most challenging part of building up the model was relative permeability curves. So, the relative permeability values were tuned to end up with a successful match of cumulatively produced oil and water cut. Finally, history matching is significant to apply a wide range of assumptions and upscale the experimental results.

Journal of Management Science & Engineering Research, 2019

The prediction of formation pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients is a significant step t... more The prediction of formation pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients is a significant step towards the drilling plan. In this study, the formation pressures of twelve wells from NC98 field-Sirte Basin (Waha Oil Company) were calculated by employing empirical methods, Eaton's equations, that depend on the real drilling and well-logging data. Regarding the results, the normal pore pressure in the NC98 field in Sirte basin is 9.89 kPa/m (0.437 Psi/ft), and it is extending from the top of the wells in the investigated area to 2134 m (7,000 ft). A subnormal to normal pore pressure zone is noticed in the interval of 2134 m to 2743 m (7,000 ft. - 9,000 ft). Then, slightly subnormal to somewhat abnormal (overpressure) region is seen from 2743 – 3414 (9,000 ft. - 11,200 ft). Beyond to that depth and down to the top of the reservoir, the overpressure zone was clearly observed. Based on the results, the casing seating depth and the equivalent mud weight were simply determined for the ...

Journal of Management Science & Engineering Research, 2019

Surfactant/alkali flooding is one of the best chemical flooding methods to enhance the oil Recove... more Surfactant/alkali flooding is one of the best chemical flooding methods to enhance the oil Recovery Factor (RF). In this research, Ionic Liquid/Alkali (ILA) mixtures were chosen to represent a form of chemical flooding experiments. The selected Ionic Liquids (ILs), {[EMIM][Cl], [THTDPH][Cl], [EMIM][Ac], [BzMIM][Cl], [DMIM][Cl], [BzMIM][TOS], [dMIM][TOS] and [MPyr][TOS]}, were introduced to investigate their efficiency in improving heavy oil (14o API) RF from the sand packs. Besides, the use of mixtures of the same ionic liquids and brine (3.37 wt. % salts) with an alkali (Sodium Bicarbonate [NaHCO3]) were also investigated. In this experimental study, the flooding process started with injecting about 3.2 Pore Volumes (PVs) of only brine, followed by one PV of the chemical composites, and flushed with two PVs of formation brine. The study discussed the influence of cation type, anion type, the structure of the ILs, and the effect of combining ILs/alkali on the RF. The results reveale...

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2018

† This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been ... more † This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas, 2017

Recent studies show that Ionic Liquids (ILs) have the ability to improve oil recovery. In this ex... more Recent studies show that Ionic Liquids (ILs) have the ability to improve oil recovery. In this experimental study, an imidazolium-based Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]), was used to extract heavy oil (14 °API) from unconsolidated packed sand samples. The RTIL was injected as slug, with different concentrations and sizes. The [EMIM][OAc] results were compared with the efficiency of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][Tf 2 N]) and 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([DMIM][Cl]) ILs. The results indicate that the efficiency of IL depends mainly on the type of IL. A comparison with a well-known commercial surfactant (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, SDS) was performed, and the results confirmed the higher efficiency of the ionic liquids. Changes in Interfacial Tension (IFT), Surface Tension (SFT), and Zeta Potential (ZP) in the solution supported the recovery factor results. Finding the optimum concentration and slug size are significant factors in making the oil extraction process more economical.