%0 Journal Article
%T SIMULATION STUDY OF POLYMER FLOODING PERFORMANCE: EFFECT OF CLAY MINERALS
%A O.A. Falode
%A F.A. Afolabi
%J Petroleum and Coal
%D 2011
%I Slovnaft V?RUP
%X Polymer flooding is a very important technique of improving oil recovery from sandstone reservoirs inparticular, because of its applicability under a wide range of reservoir rock and fluid conditions. However,these reservoir rocks contain clay minerals with high surface activities which affect the propagation ofinjected polymers.In this study, simulation study was conducted using UTCHEM, a 3-D, multiphase, multi-componentchemical flooding simulator to investigate the influence of different types of clays on flooding performanceand also to elucidate the mechanisms underlying polymer adsorption unto clay surfaces since clayminerals play a major role in retention of injected fluids thereby reducing the displacement efficiency.The input parameters for the different types of clays were synthetically generated. Flooding performance wasevaluated in relation to oil recovery, Water-Oil Ratio(WOR), Oil rate of production, Polymer retentionand Cumulative production.In all cases, Kaolinite exhibited the most favorable performance, while montmorillonite exhibited theleast. The sensitivity test carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of polymer adsorption show that there isa gradual reduction in polymer adsorption with increase in reservoir brine hardness.
%K Polymer flooding
%K Clay minerals
%K Simulation
%K Adsorption
%K Polymer Retention.
%U http://www.vurup.sk/sites/default/files/downloads/pc_3_2011_falode_123_0.pdf