Polymer solutions are used in chemical EOR processes to achieve incremental oil recoveries through obtaining favorable mobility ratios. In the process, the?in-situ?viscosity is a key parameter for the polymer flood design, as well as the changes in permeability due to the retention or adsorption (e.g.: plugging). Understanding the major causes of the plugging effects allows?predicting injectivity problems as well as optimizing project design. The objective of this work is to use glass-silicon-glass micromodels in combination with tracer particles—attached to the flooded fluids—to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the extent of permeability changes?after polymer injection. Laboratory work is performed in order to determine the physical properties of the polymer solutions when they flow through porous media, such as the presence of permeability reduction/plugging of the micromodel. A statistical analysis of the distribution and extent of plugged areas?is performed and a study of the pressure response during various injection stages will complement the study. A biopolymer (Scleroglucan) was tested and compared to a commonly used polymer, giving a direct insight into their pros and cons. Five different concentrations of polymers were tested and put into relation with their quantitative and qualitative amount of sort of called retention. The amount of adsorption was determined?experimentally in one case in order to draw the significance. By exploiting the potential of GSG-micromodels in combination with tracer particles, it was possible to visualize the reduction of flow paths and its increase during various injections for the first time. Expanding the working principle proposed in this work could provide further understanding of the behavior of any polymers.?The results obtained and workflow presented in this work allow for additional understanding of polymer solutions behavior in flooding applications. Furthermore, the definition of optimized workflows to?assess any kind of solutions in porous media and permeability changes is?supported.
References
[1]
Hincapie, R., Tovar, F.D. and Alvarez, C.E. (2011) Feasibility for the Application of In Situ Combustion in Faja Petrolifera del Orinoco (FPO) Based in a Novel Screening Criteria for the Technology. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Kuala Lumpur. https://doi.org/10.2118/144027-MS
Hincapie, R.E., Alvarez, C.E. and Vargas, A.J. (2011) Technical Feasibility of Polymer Injection in Heavy Oil Reservoir BAINF60 and BAMED78: Intercampo Norte—Through Predictive Models. SPE Heavy Oil Conference and Exhibition, Kuwait City, 12-14 December 2011, SPE-149621-MS.
[4]
Mezger, T.G. (2011) The Rheology Handbook. 3rd Edition, Vincentz Network GmbH & Co KG, Hanover.
[5]
Seright, R.S., Seheult, J.M. and Talashek, T. (2009) Injectivity Characteristics of EOR Polymers. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, 21-24 September 2009, SPE-115142-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/115142-PA
[6]
Hincapie, R.E. and Ganzer, L. (2015) Assessment of Polymer Injectivity with Regards to Viscoelasticity: Lab Evaluations towards Better Field Operations. EUROPEC 2015, Madrid, 1-4 June 2015, SPE-174346-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/174346-MS
[7]
Sheng, J.J. (2010) Modern Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery—Theory and Practice. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
[8]
Thomas, A. (2016) Polymer Flooding. InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/64623
[9]
Manichand, R. and Seright, R.S. (2014) Field vs. Laboratory Polymer-Retention Values for a Polymer Flood in the Tambaredjo Field. SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 12-16 April 2014, SPE-169027-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/169027-MS
[10]
Yerramilli, S., Zitha, P. and Yerramilli, C. (2013) Novel Insight into Polymer Injectivity for Polymer Flooding. SPE European Formation Damage Conference & Exhibition, Noordwijk, 5-7 June 2013, SPE-165195-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/165195-MS
[11]
Castro-Garcia, R.H., Maya-Toro, G., Jimenes-Diaz, R., Quintero-Perez, H., Diaz-Guardia, V., Colmenares-Vargas, K., Palma-Bustamante, J., Delgadillo-Aya, C. and Perez-Romero, R. (2016) Polymer Flooding to Improve Volumetric Sweep Efficiency in Waterflooding Processes. CT&F—Ciencia, Tecnologia y Futuro, Santander, Columbia.
[12]
Zaitoun, A. and Kohler, N. (1988) Two-Phase Flow through Porous Media: Effect of an Adsorbed Polymer Layer. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Houston. https://doi.org/10.2118/18085-MS
[13]
Vela, S., Peaceman, D. and Sandvik, E. (1976) Evaluation of Polymer Flooding in a Layered Reservoir with Crossflow, Retention and Degradation. SPE J, 16, 82-96. https://doi.org/10.2118/5102-PA
[14]
Wei, B., Romero-Zerón, L. and Rodrigue, D. (2013) Mechanical Properties and Flow Behaviour of Polymers for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Taylor & Francis, Abingdon-on-Thames. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222348.2013.857546
[15]
De Melo, M.A., de Holleben, C.R.C., da Silva, I.P.G., de Barros Correia, A., da Silva, G.A., Rosa, A.J., Lins, A.G. and de Lima, J.C. (2005) Evaluation of Polymer-Injection Projects in Brazil. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Rio de Janeiro. https://doi.org/10.2118/94898-MS
[16]
Lu, X., Liu, H., Wang, S. and Wang, X. (2011) Performance Evaluation and Mechanism Analysis of HPAM Solutin with Broad-Distribution Relative Molecular Mass. International Petroleum Technology Conference, Bangkok, 15-17 November 2011, 12. https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-14352-MS
[17]
Tu, T.N. and Bae, W. (2011) Investigating the Effect of Polymer Gels Swelling Phenomenon under Reservoir Conditions on Polymer Conformance Control Process. International Petroleum Technology Conference, Bangkok, 15-17 November 2011, 11. https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-14673-MS
[18]
Wassmuth, F.R., Green, K. and Bai, J. (2012) Associative Polymers Outperform Regular Polymers Displacing Heavy Oil in Heterogeneous Systems. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Calgary. https://doi.org/10.2118/157916-MS
[19]
Fletcher, A., Flew, S.R.G., Lamb, S.P., Lund, T., Bjornestad, E., Stavland, A. and Gjovikli, N.B. (1991) Measurements of Polysaccharide Polymer Properties in Porous Media. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Anaheim. https://doi.org/10.2118/21018-MS
[20]
Elhajjaji, R.R., Hincapie, R.E., Tahir, M., Rock, A., Wegner, J. and Ganzer, L. (2016) Systematic Study of Viscoelastic Properties during Polymer-Surfactant Flooding in Porous Media. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Moscow. https://doi.org/10.2118/181916-MS
[21]
Hincapie, R.E. (2016) Pore-Scale Investigation of the Viscoelastic Phenomenon during Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Polymer Flooding through Porous Media. Papierflieger Verlag GmbH, Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
[22]
Foedisch, H., Wegner, J., Hincapie, R.E. and Ganzer, L. (2015) Impact of Connate Water Replacement on Chemical EOR Processes. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Quito. https://doi.org/10.2118/177196-MS
[23]
Clarke, A., Howe, A.M., Mitchell, J., Staniland, J. and Hawkes, L.A. (2016) How Viscoelastic Polymer Flooding Enhances Displacement Efficiency. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Quito. https://doi.org/10.2118/174654-MS
[24]
Galindo-Rosales, F.J., Campo-Deano, L., Pinho, F.T., van Bokhorst, E., Hamersma, P.J., Oliveira, M.S.N. and Alves, M.A. (2011) Microfluidic Systems for the Analysis of Viscoelastic Fluid Flow Phenomena in Porous Media. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 12, 485-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-011-0890-6
[25]
Hincapie, R.E., Rock, A., Wegner, J. and Ganzer, L. (2017) Oil Mobilization by Viscoelastic Flow Instabilities Effects during Polymer EOR: A Pore-Scale Visualization Approach. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Buenos Aires. https://doi.org/10.2118/185489-MS
[26]
Rock, A., Hincapie, R.E., Wegner, J. and Ganzer, L. (2017) Advanced Flow Behavior Characterization of Enhanced Oil Recovery Polymers Using Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels that Resemble Porous Media. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Paris. https://doi.org/10.2118/185814-MS
[27]
Be, M., Hincapie, R.E., Rock, A., Gaol, C.L., Tahir, M. and Ganzer, L. (2017) Comprehensive Evaluation of the EOR Polymer Viscoelastic Phenomenon at Low Reynolds Number. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Paris.
[28]
Rock, A., Hincapie, R.E., Wegner, J., Foedisch, H. and Ganzer, L. (2017) Pore-Scale Visualization of Oil Recovery by Viscoelastic Flow Instabilities during Polymer EOR. European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, Stavanger. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201700273
[29]
Wegner, J. (2015) Investigation of Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in Microfluidic Devices that resemble Porous Media—An Experimental and Numerical Approach. Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
[30]
Foedisch, H., Hincapie, R., Wegner, J. and Ganzer, L. (2015) Visualization of Connate Water Replacement during Flooding Experiments Using Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels. First Break Magazine. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.20141250
[31]
Herbas, J.G., Wegner, J., Hincapie, R.E., Foedisch, H., Ganzer, L., Castillo, J.A.D. and Mugizi, H.M. (2015) Comprehensive Micromodel Study to Evaluate Polymer EOR in Unconsolidated Sand Reservoirs. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Manama. https://doi.org/10.2118/172669-MS
[32]
Wegner, J., Hincapie, R.E., Foedisch, H. and Ganzer, L. (2015) Novel Visualisation of Chemical EOR Flooding Using a Lab-on-a-Chip Setup Supported by an Extensive Rheological Characterisation. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Kuala Lumpur. https://doi.org/10.2118/174648-MS
