Application of Polymers for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review

Abstract

Polymers play a significant role in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) due to their viscoelastic properties and macromolecular structure. Herein, the mechanisms of the application of polymeric materials for enhanced oil recovery are elucidated. Subsequently, the polymer types used for EOR, namely synthetic polymers and natural polymers (biopolymers), and their properties are discussed. Moreover, the numerous applications for EOR such as polymer flooding, polymer foam flooding, alkali–polymer flooding, surfactant–polymer flooding, alkali–surfactant–polymer flooding, and polymeric nanofluid flooding are appraised and evaluated. Most of the polymers exhibit pseudoplastic behavior in the presence of shear forces. The biopolymers exhibit better salt tolerance and thermal stability but are susceptible to plugging and biodegradation. As for associative synthetic polyacrylamide, several complexities are involved in unlocking its full potential. Hence, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide remains the most coveted polymer for field application of polymer floods. Finally, alkali–surfactant–polymer flooding shows good efficiency at pilot and field scales, while a recently devised polymeric nanofluid shows good potential for field application of polymer flooding for EOR.

Phase Behavior of Ion-Containing Polymers in Polar Solvents: Predictions from a Liquid-State Theory with Local Short-Range Interactions

“…There are three types of constraints to be considered for phase equilibrium between the polymerpoor phase (phase I) and the polymer-rich phase (phase II): electrochemical potential (Eq. 19), osmotic pressure (Eq. 21), and charge neutrality (Eq.…”

“…Charged polymers are ubiquitous throughout nature and myriads of technological applications [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Most of the water-soluble polymers, either natural or synthetic, are charged, and they have a wide range of applications in various industrial sectors, including the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries [12], the oil and gas industries [17][18][19][20], construction chemicals [13], coatings, inks, flocculants, papers, agrochemicals (or agrichemicals), adhesives, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care products [21]. When water-soluble polymers containing ionizable groups come in contact with water-a polar solvent, they dissolve and release "counterions" to their surroundings.…”

Phase Behavior of Ion-Containing Polymers in Polar Solvents: Predictions from a Liquid-State Theory with Local Short-Range Interactions

“…Charged polymers are ubiquitous throughout nature and have myriad technological applications [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Most of the water-soluble polymers, either natural or synthetic, are charged, and they have a wide range of applications in various industrial sectors, including the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries [ 12 ], the oil and gas industries [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], construction chemicals [ 13 ], coatings, inks, flocculants, papers, agrochemicals (or agrichemicals), adhesives, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care products [ 21 ]. When water-soluble polymers containing ionizable groups come into contact with water, which is a polar solvent, they dissolve and release “counterions” into their surroundings.…”

Can Supramolecular Polymers Become Another Material Choice for Polymer Flooding to Enhance Oil Recovery?

“…Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a general term for oil recovery by improving the physical and chemical properties of reservoir and fluid, improving swept volume and oil displacement efficiency [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. With the continuous consumption of oil and the increasing demand for energy, it is particularly important to improve the crude oil recovery of difficult to recover reservoirs such as mature oilfields and low permeability reservoirs [ 2 ].…”

“…Polymer flooding accounts for more than 77% of global CEOR projects, and it is the main technology to improve oil recovery in the middle and later stage of mature oilfield development [ 1 , 3 ]. It is generally believed that polymer flooding can improve oil displacement efficiency mainly by reducing the water–oil mobility ratio and expanding sweep volume.…”