Disproportionate Permeability Reduction Due to Polymer Adsorption Entanglement

Al-Sharji, H.H.; Grattoni, C.A.; Dawe, R.A.; Zimmerman, R.W.

doi:10.2523/68972-ms

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Cationic polymers tend to be more shear-sensitive, and high molecular weights may be harder to achieve [54]. However, some cationic polymeric materials have been investigated with EOR in mind [57][58][59]. For example, Al-Sharji et al [57] used cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM; molecular weight = 6 × 10 6 g/mol and 10% cationicity) to study disproportionate permeability reduction (that is, decreasing water permeability while keeping the oil permeability as high as possible).…”

Section: Polymer Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some cationic polymeric materials have been investigated with EOR in mind [57][58][59]. For example, Al-Sharji et al [57] used cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM; molecular weight = 6 × 10 6 g/mol and 10% cationicity) to study disproportionate permeability reduction (that is, decreasing water permeability while keeping the oil permeability as high as possible). Additionally, Zou et al [58] evaluated the properties of novel anionic and cationic polyacrylamide-based polymers for EOR (including intrinsic viscosity, salt resistance, thermal resistance, and shear resistance).…”

Section: Polymer Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Polymeric Materials for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

2020

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Polymer flooding is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique; sweeping a reservoir with a dilute polymer solution can significantly improve the overall oil recovery. In this overview, polymeric materials for enhanced oil recovery are described in general terms, with specific emphasis on desirable characteristics for the application. Application-specific properties should be considered when selecting or developing polymers for enhanced oil recovery and should be carefully evaluated. Characterization techniques should be informed by current best practices; several are described herein. Evaluation of fundamental polymer properties (including polymer composition, microstructure, and molecular weight averages); resistance to shear/thermal/chemical degradation; and salinity/hardness compatibility are discussed. Finally, evaluation techniques to establish the polymer flooding performance of candidate EOR materials are described.

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Section: Polymer Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Polymer Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Polymeric Materials for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

2020

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“…[17][18] However, ref. 16 reports no permeability reduction in oil-wet micromodels, which may be because of the pore structure used.…”

Section: Pore Size Restrictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segregated Flow is the Governing Mechanism of Disproportionate Permeability Reduction in Water and Gas Shutoff

Stavland¹,

Nilsson²

2001

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThis paper describes the mechanism for disproportionate permeability reduction (DPR). Recent papers have discussed possible DPR mechanisms. Most of the papers conclude that there is not yet a single factor that determines DPR. The intention of this paper is to clarify that there is a single model, which explains the observed DPR effects. This model relies on segregated flow of oil and water at pore level and on continuity in the oil phase at placement of the DPR fluid. With this model DPR is demonstrated for both gel and single polymer systems at different wettabilities. Oil continuity is normally easier to obtain for single polymers than for crosslinked gels. Gel systems may, however, be more robust. The paper describes a method for placement of water-soluble gel while maintaining open pathways for oil. Additionally, it is shown that using the phase permeability reduction ratio is not a good measure for defining optimum DPR. Therefore a new selectivity parameter is introduced which demonstrates to be more effective.

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Conditioning Polymer Solutions for Injection into Tight Reservoir Rocks

Driver

Britton

Hernandez

et al. 2018

SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference

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Water soluble polymers have been used for decades as mobility control agents for tertiary recovery processes. Viscosity is conferred by the large hydrated size of the individual high molecular weight polymer molecules; their single-molecule hydrated size is so large that it can rival the diameters of the pore throats conducting the fluid, and it is widely understood that there are permeability limits below which solutions of such polymers cannot transport well. Delineating exactly where these limits are remains challenging, and operators are left to use whatever anecdotal evidence is available to decide whether to inject polymer, and, if so, what type and molecular weight to use. A rule of thumb is that when the permeability of a rock falls below 100 millidarcys, transport can be problematic. We have developed processing techniques for laboratory tests to condition polymer solutions for injection into reservoir carbonate cores with permeabilities below 10 millidarcys and median pore radii below one micron. Shearing and tight filtration were used to reduce the maximum size of polymers in solution while retaining as much viscosity as possible. Subsequent filtration was used to quantitatively assess the plugging behavior of the product solution across a range of pore sizes smaller than those which conduct in the rock sample. Coreflood injectivity tests revealed the onset of face plugging as a function of average polymer size. Co-solvent was shown to dramatically improve the transport of sulfonated polyacrylamides when face plugging did not occur, and those improvements were mirrored in benchtop filtration data. This improvement came despite equal-or-better viscosity in the polymer solution, demonstrating that the co-solvent did not reduce the polymer's hydrated size and therefore most likely weakens inter-molecular associations in solution. In sum, the data indicate that permeability loss occurred by two mechanisms: simple mechanical plugging and progressive adsorption, likely mediated by inter-molecular entanglements. These two permeability reduction mechanisms should be rectified by different means.

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Disproportionate Permeability Reduction Due to Polymer Adsorption Entanglement

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Evaluation of Polymeric Materials for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

Evaluation of Polymeric Materials for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

Segregated Flow is the Governing Mechanism of Disproportionate Permeability Reduction in Water and Gas Shutoff

Conditioning Polymer Solutions for Injection into Tight Reservoir Rocks

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