Status of Polymer-Flooding Technology

Sheng, James J.; Leonhardt, B.; Azri, Nasser

doi:10.2118/174541-pa

Cited by 471 publications

(332 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Based on the relation curves between oil saturation and resistance value, the oil saturation distribution of each layer of heterogeneous artificial cores (at the end of polymer flooding stage) were mapped through data acquisition computer, as shown in Figs. (10) and (11).…”

Section: Comparison Between Different Distribution Of Remaining Oil Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory Study on EOR in Offshore Oilfields by Variable Concentrations Polymer Flooding

Song¹,

Sun²,

Pi³

2017

TOPEJ

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Background:Polymer flooding is the most commonly applied chemical enhanced-oil-recovery technique in offshore oilfields. However, there are challenges and risks in applying the technology of polymer flooding to offshore heavy oil development. Objective:This paper compared the spread law and the displacement effect of different injection modes and validated the feasibility of enhancing oil recovery by variable concentrations polymer flooding. Method:Two types of laboratory experiments were designed by using micro etching glass models and heterogeneous artificial cores. Furthermore, in order to determine a better polymer flooding mode, the displacement results, displacement characteristic curves and oil saturation distribution of heterogeneous artificial cores were also compared, respectively. Results:The experimental results showed that the recovery of variable concentrations polymer flooding was higher than that of constant concentration polymer flooding, under conditions of same total amount of polymer and similar water flooding recovery. Its sweep efficiency and displacement efficiency were also significantly higher than those of constant concentration polymer flooding. Moreover, variable concentrations polymer flooding had lower peak pressure and was at lower risk for reaching the formation fracture pressure. Conclusion:As a consequence, variable concentrations polymer flooding has certain feasibility for heterogeneous reservoir in offshore oilfields, and can improve interlayer heterogeneity to further tapping remaining oil in medium and low permeability layer. Conclusions of this paper can provide reference for the field application of polymer flooding in offshore oilfields.

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Section: Comparison Between Different Distribution Of Remaining Oil Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory Study on EOR in Offshore Oilfields by Variable Concentrations Polymer Flooding

Song¹,

Sun²,

Pi³

2017

TOPEJ

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“…Most of the previously published experimental studies have only considered the influence of MW or concentration on injection [14][15][16]. Therefore, previous experiments were carried out with artificial cores and a certain polymer concentration.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching Relationship and Alternating Injection for Polymer Flooding in Heterogeneous Formations: A Laboratory Case Study of Daqing Oilfield

et al. 2017

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A series of experiments were carried out to study the relationship between polymer and reservoir permeability, as well as the alternating injection pattern for heterogeneous formations. The polymer molecular size (MS) was studied using dynamic light scattering. The parameters such as hydraulic radius, molecular weight (MW), concentrations and salinity were studied. The injection capacity and the relationship between polymer and formation were obtained using injection experiments with natural cores, which represent different regions in the Daqing oilfield. Moreover, an improved injection pattern, alternating injection in heterogeneous formation was studied based on the injection experiments of parallel and in-layer heterogeneous artificial cores. The alternate cycle and slug size were investigated. It was proven that the alternating injection can improve the efficiency of low permeability layers up to 7.3% and a mean value of 4.27%. It was also found that the mechanism of alternating injection is blocking the high permeability layers and improving the water injection profile. We suggest that other fields with high heterogeneity could try the alternating injection to optimize the polymer flooding. Meanwhile, further pilot tests or numerical simulation of polymer alternating injection in heterogeneous formation (formation type II) should be conducted.

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“…The main extra cost is the polymer itself, incurred continuously as operating expenditure (OPEX). Sheng et al [24] reported that the average cost of polymer (excluding related costs such as processing cost) is around USD4.00 per barrel of incremental oil achieved, which can be a substantial addition to the oil lifting cost.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2). A number of authors have presented analytical solutions that can be used to estimate the impact of adsorption on a polymer slug including [3,20,22,24], and [8], but to date no-one has derived a solution to describe the impact of viscous fingering.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical solution of polymer slug injection with viscous fingering

Hamid

Muggeridge

2018

Comput Geosci

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We present an analytical solution to estimate the minimum polymer slug size needed to ensure that viscous fingering of chase water does not cause its breakdown during secondary oil recovery. Polymer flooding is typically used to improve oil recovery from more viscous oil reservoirs. The polymer is injected as a slug followed by chase water to reduce costs; however, the water is less viscous than the oil. This can result in miscible viscous fingering of the water into the polymer, breaking down the slug and reducing recovery. The solution assumes that the average effect of fingering can be represented by the empirical Todd and Longstaff model. The analytical calculation of minimum slug size is compared against numerical solutions using the Todd and Longstaff model as well as high resolution first contact miscible simulation of the fingering. The ability to rapidly determine the minimum polymer slug size is potentially very useful during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) screening studies.

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Status of Polymer-Flooding Technology

Cited by 471 publications

References 69 publications

Laboratory Study on EOR in Offshore Oilfields by Variable Concentrations Polymer Flooding

Laboratory Study on EOR in Offshore Oilfields by Variable Concentrations Polymer Flooding

Matching Relationship and Alternating Injection for Polymer Flooding in Heterogeneous Formations: A Laboratory Case Study of Daqing Oilfield

Analytical solution of polymer slug injection with viscous fingering

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