Modeling oil saturation evolution in residual oil zones: Implications for CO2 EOR and sequestration

Residual oil zones (ROZs) are extensively developed in carbonate formations in the Permian Basin, West Texas. These ROZs have the potential both for economically-viable CO2 enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) and for significant volumes of associated CO2 sequestration. The accepted model for ROZ formation is based on the hydrodynamic effects of tectonically-controlled increased water flow in aquifers at the base of oil fields. The nature of this...