Data driven approach using capacitance resistance model to determine polymer in-situ retention level

Abstract

Polymer retention in reservoir rock can significantly impair polymer flood effectiveness and increases the required polymer bank slug size to maintain mobility control. Laboratory measurements such as static adsorption and coreflooding test are typically performed to assess polymer retention level in the reservoir, however such measurements are sensitive to rock sample used and its grain size, and the preparation method. Hence, to obtain the most representative data, polymer retention level measurement should be done at reservoir in-situ condition.This study presents an investigation to couple capacitance resistance model with polymer transport model. By utilizing produced polymer concentration data, polymer injection allocation can be determined. The coupled model also provides rapid polymer retention level estimate based on in-situ data. This model has been validated with numerical reservoir model and applied to evaluate a field polymer flood pilot.