TY - GEN
T1 - A Laboratory investigation of factors affecting polymer retention in carbonate reservoirs
AU - Thomas, Nithin Chacko
AU - Alfazazi, Umar
AU - Al-Shalabi, Emad W.
AU - AlAmeri, Waleed
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided by Khalifa University of Science and Technology and funding by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to carry out this project. The authors also wish to extend their appreciation to Cargill for providing the biopolymer samples.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Society of Petroleum Engineers
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Polymer flooding is one of the widely used chemical enhanced oil recovery techniques. Polymer retention is one of the key factors that affects a successful polymer flooding application at field-scale. This paper evaluates polymer retention of two potential synthetic- and bio-polymers in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions. Static retention of the two potential polymers was evaluated through studying different potential parameters that govern polymer adsorption rate, namely soaking time, liquid/solid ratio, rock surface area, polymer concentration, temperature, and sulfate spiking. Pulverized carbonate outcrop samples were used as rock surface medium. The initial and final concentrations of polymer solutions were measured using UV-Spectro Photometer and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer for the synthetic- and bio-polymers, respectively. Results from the static tests showed that the liquid to solid ratio is the most influential parameter affecting polymer adsorption. Effect of time on biopolymer adsorption is negligible and instantaneous, whereas it took about 6 hours for the synthetic polymer to reach an equilibrium adsorption state with rock powders. Although polymer retention increases with increasing the salinity of the makeup water, acceptable adsorption levels of 250 and 310 µg/g were obtained at a high salinity of 167,000 ppm for synthetic- and bio-polymers, respectively. Polymer concentration is directly affecting the adsorption rate. In addition, the synthetic polymer showed less retention with more promising results as opposed to the biopolymer. The study evaluates several potential parameters affecting static adsorption of potential synthetic- and bio-polymers in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions. The paper provides more insight into the effect of sulfate spiking on polymer retention that has not been investigated thoroughly before. The approach used is much simpler than the dynamic retention measurements, but still can be used as an initial screening step before polymer injection tests.
AB - Polymer flooding is one of the widely used chemical enhanced oil recovery techniques. Polymer retention is one of the key factors that affects a successful polymer flooding application at field-scale. This paper evaluates polymer retention of two potential synthetic- and bio-polymers in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions. Static retention of the two potential polymers was evaluated through studying different potential parameters that govern polymer adsorption rate, namely soaking time, liquid/solid ratio, rock surface area, polymer concentration, temperature, and sulfate spiking. Pulverized carbonate outcrop samples were used as rock surface medium. The initial and final concentrations of polymer solutions were measured using UV-Spectro Photometer and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer for the synthetic- and bio-polymers, respectively. Results from the static tests showed that the liquid to solid ratio is the most influential parameter affecting polymer adsorption. Effect of time on biopolymer adsorption is negligible and instantaneous, whereas it took about 6 hours for the synthetic polymer to reach an equilibrium adsorption state with rock powders. Although polymer retention increases with increasing the salinity of the makeup water, acceptable adsorption levels of 250 and 310 µg/g were obtained at a high salinity of 167,000 ppm for synthetic- and bio-polymers, respectively. Polymer concentration is directly affecting the adsorption rate. In addition, the synthetic polymer showed less retention with more promising results as opposed to the biopolymer. The study evaluates several potential parameters affecting static adsorption of potential synthetic- and bio-polymers in carbonate reservoirs under harsh conditions. The paper provides more insight into the effect of sulfate spiking on polymer retention that has not been investigated thoroughly before. The approach used is much simpler than the dynamic retention measurements, but still can be used as an initial screening step before polymer injection tests.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097538801&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85097538801
T3 - Society of Petroleum Engineers - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2020, ADIP 2020
BT - Society of Petroleum Engineers - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2020, ADIP 2020
T2 - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2020, ADIP 2020
Y2 - 9 November 2020 through 12 November 2020
ER -