Multi-scale rheological perspective to polymer solutions and gels in EOR

Abstract

Polymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), especially using polyacrylamide (PAM) based systems, gradually became the largest non-Newtonian fluid process of economic significance. Yet, the mechanistic understanding lags behind. In this paper, the relations of structures — rheological properties — EOR applications were reviewed and some recent laboratory studies on associated PAM and PAM soft gels were introduced. The multi scale understanding of polymer rheology was found to be an essential factor for future developments.

Keywords

rheology / enhanced oil recovery / polyacrylamide / hydrophobic association / weak gel

References

[1] YangC. Z.Increase Oil Recovery Using Chemical Flooding[M], 1999, Beijing, Petroleum Industry Press

[2] ZhangJ. C.Tertiary Oil Recovery[M], 1995, Beijing, Petroleum Industry Press

[3] ShenP. P., YuJ. Y.The Basic Researches on Enhancing Petroleum Recovery[M], 2004, Beijing, Petroleum Industry Press

[4] SunH. Q., ZhangY. G., CaoX. L.Polymer Flooding Technology[M], 2002, Dongying, Petroleum University Press

[5] XIA Hui-fen, WANG De-min, WU Jun-zheng, et al. Elasticity of HPAM solutions increases displacement efficiency under mixed wettability conditions[R]. SPE 88456, 2004: 108.

[6] FERNANDO R H, GLASS J E. Extensional Viscosity Correction with Mobility Control Buffer Flow Behavior in Berea cores[R]. SPE 13584, 1985.

[7] MarshallR. J., MetzerA. B.. Flow of viscoelastic fluids though porous media[J]. I&EC Fundamentals, 1967, 6(3): 393-400

[8] MagueurA., MoanM.. Effect of successive contractions and expansions on the apparent viscosity of dilute polymer solutions[J]. Chem Eng Communic, 1985, 36: 351-356

[9] HanX. Q.. Viscoelastic behavior of polymer molecules retained in porous media[J]. Erdoel Erdgas Kohle, 1990, 106(10): 393-398

[10] LiuZ. Y., XuY. Z.. Studies on rheological properties of HPAM solutions through porous media[J]. Oilfield Chemistry, 1996, 13(2): 145-148

[11] XU Y Z. Shengli Oil Field on polymer application on EOR[R]. Dongying, 2003.

[12] AubryT., MoanM.. Rheological behavior of a hydrophobically associating water soluble polymer[J]. Journal of Rheology, 1994, 38: 1681-1692

[13] MccormickC. L., JohnsonC. B.. Structurally tailored macromolecules for mobility control in enhanced oil recovery[C]. Water-Soluble Polymers for Petroleum Recovery, 1988, New York, Plenum Press: 161-180

[14] MccormickC. L., NonakaT., JohnsonC. B.. Water-soluble copolymers. 27. Synthesis and aqueous solution behaviour of associative acrylamide/n-alkylacrylamide copolymers[J]. Polymer, 1988, 29(4): 731-739

[15] TaylorK. C., Nasr-El-DinH. A.. Water-soluble hydrophobically associating polymers for improved oil recovery: A literature review[J]. J Petroleum Sci & Eng, 1998, 19: 265-280

[16] HillA., CandauF., SelbJ.. Properties of hydrophobically Associating polyacrylamides: Influence of the method of synthesis[J]. Macromolecules, 1993, 26: 4521-4532

[17] VolpertE., SelbJ., CandauF.. Associating behaviour of polyacrylamides hydrophobically modified with dihexylacrylamide[J]. Polymer, 1998, 39(5): 1025-1033

[18] BiggsS., SelbJ., CandauF.. Effect of surfactant on the solution properties of hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide[J]. Langmuir, 1992, 8: 838-847

[19] VolpertE., SelbJ., CandauF., et al.. Influence of the hydrophobe structure on composition, microstructure, and rheology in associating polyacrylamides prepared by micellar copolymerization[J]. Macromolecules, 1996, 29(5): 1452-1463

[20] SunH., ZhangK. L., ChenJ., et al.. Effect of hydrophobic association on structure and rheological behavior of polyacrylamide aqueous solutions[J]. Acta Polymerica Sinica, 2006, 9(6): 810-814

[21] VossoughiS.. Profile modification using in situ gelation technology-a review[J]. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2000, 26: 199-209

[22] Moradi-AraghiA.. A Review of thermally stable gels for fluid diversion in petroleum production[J]. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2000, 26: 1-10

[23] GrattoniC. A.. Rheology and permeability of crosslinked polyacrylamide gel[J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2001, 240: 601-607

[24] BryantS. L., BartosekM., LockhartT. P.. Laboratory evaluation of phenol-formaldehyde/polymer gelants for high-temperature application[J]. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 1997, 17: 197-209

[25] LuoW. L., WuZ. L., NiuY. B.. New development in colloidal dispersion gel[J]. Oilfield Chemistry, 1999, 16(2): 188-193

[26] ZhangY. F.. Development in weak gel oil-displacing system[J]. Advances in Fine Petrochemicals, 2003, 4(6): 45-48

[27] YangJ. M., CaoX. L., ZhangK. L., et al.. Monte Carlo simulation of the gelation process of aqueous polymer weak gel[J]. Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2006, 27(3): 579-582

[28] ZhangK. L., CaoX. L., XuY. Z.. The rheological analysis of gelation kinetics for HPAM weak gels[J]. Acta Polymerica Sinica, 2006, 9(3): 516-522

[29] WinterH. H., ChambonF.. Analysis of linear viscoelasticity of a crosslinking polymer at the gel point[J]. Journal of Rheology, 1986, 30(2): 367-382

[30] ChambonF., PetrovicZ., MacknightW. J., et al.. Rheology of model polyurethanes at the gel point[J]. Macromolecules, 1986, 19(8): 2146-2149

[31] WinterH. H., MorganelliP., ChambonF.. Stoichiometry effects on rheology of model polyurethanes at the gel point[J]. Macromolecules, 1988, 21: 532-535