Study on Flow Parameters Measurement Experiment of Polymer Solution in Porous Media

Abstract

Due to the complexity of porous media and viscoelasticity of polymer solution, the flow behavior of polymer solution in porous media is more complex than that in the rheometer, and the flow regular pattern of polymer solution in porous media directly affects the formulation of polymer flooding projects. This paper designs experiment on flow parameters measurement of polymer solution (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide) in porous media, and the regular pattern of influence on resistance factor, residual resistance factor and flow viscosity in porous media caused by core permeability, polymer concentration, polymer molecular weight and polymer injection rate was given. The followings are the results: even for the same batch core with similar parameters, due to reasons such as natural fractures which could lead to comparatively large difference of core parameters between the same batch of core, thus in order to ensure the reliability of experiment data, it is necessary to detect core quality before core flooding experiment. Core end effect has significant effect on the results of core flooding experiment, it suggests that we should eliminate the effect of core end effect when carry out core flooding experiment, otherwise it is difficult to obtain valid experiment data. There exists a critical polymer concentration, when polymer concentration is lower than critical concentration, resistance factor is basically equal to apparent viscosity; when polymer concentration is higher than critical concentration, resistance factor is far less than apparent viscosity and the difference value increases with the increase of polymer concentration. Flow viscosity of polymer solution in porous media is far less than apparent viscosity in the rheometer and when polymer concentration increases, the increase extent of flow viscosity is far less than the increase of apparent viscosity. Results of this research are of great importance for enhancing flooding effect and guiding oilfield production.