Abstract

Polymer flooding is technologically simple and highly effective method of enhanced oil recovery. The method is based on adding a small amount of polymer in conventional water flooding of oil reservoirs. The increase in viscosity and the reduction of the mobility of injected water are to equalize the displacement front by slowing the moving of water in the highly permeable zones and restricting the formation of water finger. These factors help to increase the sweep efficiency and oil-water displacement efficiency during flooding. Polymer flooding has been used successfully in clastic and carbonate reservoirs, as well as in low-permeability reservoirs such as a fractured basement. However, most of the current polymer gel used for control water flows are decayed by a high content of ions Ca2+ and Mg2+ in formation water or in injected water. Similarly, polymer gels lose their stability at high reservoir temperature (above 70°C). Developing water-soluble polymer, which does not change their rheological properties under high salinity and high temperature (over 100°C), is very important when producing offshore, where sea water is commonly used for flooding (high salinity of 30-40 g/L).

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