Polymeric and Alkali-Surfactant Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery Chemical Treatment: Chemistry and Strategies Required After Breakthrough Into the Process

Wylde, Jonathan; Slayer, Jubal; Barbu, Victor

doi:10.2118/164078-ms

Cited by 25 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…scale deposit on heat exchangers, nutshell filters, heater treaters) due to back produced polymer (Al-Kalbani et al, 2014b;Bartz and Gotterba, 2015;Riethmuller et al, 2014;Wylde, J., Slayer, J. L., & Barbu, V., 2013). …”

Section: Summary Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, most of the studies documented in the literature mainly focus its attention on emulsion stability and its impact on oil-water separation, water treatment and production facilities (i.e. nutshell filters, heater treaters) due to the back produced polymer (Al-Kalbani et al, 2014;Al-Maamari et al, 2014;Bartz and Gotterba, 2015;Delamaide et al, 2014b;Geremia, and Bennetzen, 2016;Jacob et al, 2015;Rambeau, O., Jacob, M., Jouenne, S., & Cordelier, P., 2014;Wu et al, 2013;Wylde, Slayer & Barbu, 2013;Yang, Zhihua, Xianglong & Shanzhe, 2015;Zheng, F., Quiroga, P., & Sams, G. W., 2011).…”

Section: Water Emulsions In the Presence Of Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Historical and recent observations in polymer floods: An update review

Manrique¹,

Ahmadi²,

Samani³

2017

CT&F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro

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Polymer flooding has been the most widely used chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. The experience gained over the past decades from laboratory studies to project design and field implementation has been well documented in the literature. The main objectives of this paper are to evaluate recent observations of polymer floods that report injection rates leading to pressure values above the formation fracture pressure (FFP), high polymer production, formation of tight emulsions and/or productivity losses.Based on this review, it can be concluded that no direct evidence exists to support that injecting polymer above the FFP will lead to more polymer production. However, uncertainties associated with the estimation of fracture propagation/dimensions using pressure Fall-Off Tests (FOT) still remain. High polymer production, other than severe channeling, is generally reported in large scale/commercial projects. The impact of oil geochemistry/ composition and water salinity on oil-water-polymer emulsions is commonly overlooked in polymer flood studies. The formation of in-situ emulsions can also explain the injectivity and/or productivity reduction and well test interpretation (i.e. FOT) reported in polymer floods. It was also identified that the OPEX (Operational Expenditures) associated with oil-water separation in the presence of polymer and productivity losses (i.e. workovers, stimulation costs) are generally underestimated. Finally, this review is expected to contribute with the planning, design and implementation of future polymer flood pilots and field expansions. OBSERVACIONES HISTÓRICAS Y RECIENTES EN INYECCIÓN DEPOLÍMEROS: REVISIÓN ACTUALIZADA. OBSERVAÇÕES HISTÓRICAS E RECENTES DE INJEÇÃO DE POLÍMEROS:REVISÃO ACTUALIZADA. EDUARDO MANRIQUE et. al. 18 L a inyección de polímeros es el método químico de recobro mejorado con mayor número de implementaciones a escala de campo. La experiencia adquirida en las últimas décadas desde estudios de laboratorio hasta el diseño e implementación de campo ha sido bien documentada en la literatura. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es evaluar observaciones recientes de proyectos de inyección de polímero reportando tasas de inyección por encima de la presión de fractura de la formación, alta producción de polímero, formación de emulsiones viscosas y/o pérdidas de productividad.Basados en esta revisión, se puede concluir de que no existen evidencias directas de que la inyección de polímero a tasas que impliquen superar la presión de fractura induzcan a una mayor producción de polímeros. Sin embargo, existen incertidumbres relacionadas con la estimación de las dimensiones y propagación de fracturas utilizando pruebas de caídas de presión (FOT). La alta producción de polímero, por razones diferentes a canalizaciones severas, generalmente se reportan en proyectos a escala comercial. Por otra parte, el impacto de la composición y geoquímica del crudo y de la salinidad del agua en la formación de emulsiones agua:petróleo:polímero ha sido subestimado en estudios de in...

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Section: Summary Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water Emulsions In the Presence Of Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical and recent observations in polymer floods: An update review

Manrique¹,

Ahmadi²,

Samani³

2017

CT&F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro

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“…As in other EOR tests (Zheng et al 2011;Wylde et al 2013;Rambeau et al 2014;Al Kalbani et al 2014), several operational challenges have been experienced in separation and water-treatment facilities resulting from polymers.…”

Section: Reservoir Effects Of Polymer-solution Injectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A direct impact on the viscosity of the polymer solution could not be measured. However, because polymer injection occurred under fracturing conditions (Clemens et al 2013), the induced fractures are growing faster for poorer water quality (Suri et al 2011;Zechner et al 2015) as a result of more-extensive plugging of the fracture interfaces by the sludge. Because growing fractures might impact sweep efficiency if they are extensive (van den Hoek 2004), the water quality had to be improved to reduce this risk.…”

Section: Polymer-solution Quality and Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Operational Challenges and Monitoring of a Polymer Pilot, Matzen Field, Austria

Lüftenegger

Kadnar

Puls

et al. 2016

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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Four main areas of uncertainty can be described in polymer-injection projects:1. Are we able to deliver the polymer solutions at the required quality to the wellhead? 2. Are we able to inject polymers at the required quantity and quality? 3. Are we producing sufficient incremental oil? 4. Are we able to separate and treat oil and water cost-effectively after polymer breakthrough? The monitoring program that was developed for the polymerinjection pilot aims to reduce the uncertainty and quickly identify operational difficulties, as described in the following:• Polymer quality at the wellhead: The polymer concentration and viscosity of the "source" solution and injected polymer solution were measured at various locations in the surface facilities. A quality check of the delivered polymer (including a filter ratio test of the dissolved polymer) was performed, the biological activity monitored, iron content measured, and polymer solution investigated for "fish eyes." The monitoring program enabled us to identify challenges related to shearing the polymers after changing the operating envelope, to identify problems related to biological activity, and to ensure data quality for interpretation of the pilot. • Injectivity and degradation: Monitoring involved wellheadand bottomhole-pressure measurements, repeated falloff tests, and visual observation of the polymer solutions in the well. The results showed the mobility reduction of the polymer solutions and an indication of induced fractures. Combining the various measurements led to identification of an operational issue-the injectivity decreased more than expected from polymer rheology and prepilot water-quality assessment. The reason was the combination of fines and small oil droplets existing in the injection water with polymer-and biologicalgenerated mass that plugged the pores during injection.

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“…HPAM in the produced fluids causes difficulties to the separation process (Zheng et al 2011;Wylde et al 2013). This issue has brought more attentions in recent years.…”

Section: Challenges In Heavy Oil Dehydration From Hpam Flood Using Mementioning

confidence: 99%

Electrostatic Dehydration of Heavy Oil from Polymer Flood with Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide

et al. 2013

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Polymer flood using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) has been proven to be an effective method to increase oil recovery. However, when HPAM breaks through the reservoir and shows up in the produced fluids, it brings unique emulsion characteristics and challenges to the separation processes. Operators have experienced frequent equipment failures on heat exchangers and heating elements. Traditional oil dehydration uses mechanical heater treaters which rely on elevated temperature to improve the settling of the dispersed water phase. In HPAM flood, the fire tubes in these mechanical heater treaters have become problematic and experienced repetitive failures. Electrostatic technology uses the response to the electrostatic field by the polar dispersed water phase to enhance the water settling. Electrostatic technology has been a proven technology for oil dehydration and desalting for water flood and other recovery methods such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), but not widely used in HPAM flood. A joint study was conducted between Cameron and Cenovus to evaluate the electrostatic dehydration of the heavy oil from HPAM flood. The results of the study indicate that, due to the presence of HPAM in water, the electrostatic dehydration of the wet oil from HPAM flood demonstrates some unique characteristics. Electrostatic dehydrators can achieve about 300% of the capacity of mechanical heater treaters. Proper equipment and process designs are important to reduce the equipment failures. The results of the study offer a more effective oil dehydration technology to the HPAM flood producers. The benefits of electrostatic dehydration can be especially valuable for the offshore implementation of HPAM flood due to the space and weight savings.

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Polymeric and Alkali-Surfactant Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery Chemical Treatment: Chemistry and Strategies Required After Breakthrough Into the Process

Cited by 25 publications

References 16 publications

Historical and recent observations in polymer floods: An update review

Historical and recent observations in polymer floods: An update review

Operational Challenges and Monitoring of a Polymer Pilot, Matzen Field, Austria

Electrostatic Dehydration of Heavy Oil from Polymer Flood with Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide

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