Abstract
Whenever water production exceeds economic limits of a given oil or gas field, the need arises for a process by which produced water is reduced. Published data indicate that the petroleum industry spends $40 billion every year to process excessive produced water. Water also causes corrosion, scale and requires the construction of larger downstream handling facilities. Polymer gels, due to their versatile nature, are deemed suitable for reducing water production from oil and gas fields. Treatments utilizing these materials are generally referred to as conformance improvement treatments (CITs). Depending on the type of the crosslinker used, polymer gels can be classified as inorganically crosslinked or organically crosslinked. Examples on each type highlighting their capabilities and shortcomings are provided. Polymer thermal stability, compatibility with mixing waters, correct identification of the water production mechanism and gelation time are all key parameters for successful polymer-gel CITs. We will present an overview of the polymer gels technology available up-to-date with practical examples on key parameters for successful CITs. This paper will serve as a guide for scientists and engineers on the use of polymer gels for water control.
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