Improving EOR Economics by Polymer Technology Development

Abstract

Recent advancements in polymer technology have played an important role in enabling polymer flood projects and widening the spectrum of applicable conditions for use. These improvements have generated clear benefits to operators by improving the economic and environmental measures for these projects. In the Captain field, located in the UKCS of the North Sea, a liquid, high active, +50% anionic polyacrylamide polymer has been injected since 2017 within the Captain Stage 1 polymerflood development. This large scale offshore polymerflood project has proven the benefit of polymer EOR technology in an offshore setting, with clear production responses across all polymer injection patterns. This paper describes the impact of polymer product development on the overall efficacy of the polymer project at Captain, including savings related to polymer consumption. This progress has a direct effect on overall logistic and supply chain improvements, offshore inventory needs, and results in a reduction of CO2 emissions related to polymer production and transportation.