Application of Xanthan Gum for Enhanced Oil Recovery

1977 ◽  
pp. 242-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. I. SANDVIK ◽  
J. M. MAERKER
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum

scholarly journals Evaluation of an alkali-polymer flooding technique for enhanced oil recovery in Trinidad and Tobago

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3947-3959
Author(s):  
Kyle Medica ◽  
Rean Maharaj ◽  
David Alexander ◽  
Mohammad Soroush
Keyword(s):  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Screening Criteria

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago (TT) is seeking to develop more economical methods of enhanced oil recovery to arrest the decline in crude oil production and to meet the current and future energy demand. The utilization of alkaline-polymer flooding to enhance oil recovery in TT requires key studies to be conducted to obtain critical information of the flooding system (soil type, additive type, pH, adsorption characteristics and rheological (flow) characteristics). Understanding the role of, interplay and optimizing of these variables will provide key input data for the required simulations to produce near realistic projections of the required EOR efficiencies. The parameters of various wells in TT were compared to the screening criteria for alkali-polymer flooding, and the EOR 4 well was found to be suitable and thus selected for evaluation. Laboratory adsorption studies showed that the 1000 ppm xanthan gum flooding solution containing 0.25% NaOH exhibited the lowest absorption capacity for the gravel packed sand and exhibited the lowest viscosity at all the tested shear rates. The lowest adsorption was 2.27 × 10−7 lbmole/ft3 which occurred with the 1000 ppm xanthan gum polymer containing 0.25% NaOH, and the evidence showed that the polymer was adsorbed on the other side of the faults, indicating that it has moved further and closer to the producing well. Implementation of an alkali polymer flooding resulted in an incremental increase in the recovery factors (~ 3%) compared to polymer flooding; however, a change in the oil recovery as a function of the alkaline concentration was not observed. The simulated economic analysis clearly shows that all the analysed EOR scenarios resulted in economically feasible outcomes of net present value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback period for oil price variations between $35 and $60 USD per barrel of oil. A comparison of the individual strategies shows that the alkali-polymer flood system utilizing 0.25% sodium hydroxide with 1000 ppm xanthan gum is the best option in terms of cumulative production, recovery factor, NPV, IRR and time to payback.

scholarly journals An evaluation of the enhanced oil recovery potential of the xanthan gum and aquagel in a heavy oil reservoir in Trinidad

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3779-3789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Coolman ◽  
David Alexander ◽  
Rean Maharaj ◽  
Mohammad Soroush
Keyword(s):  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Polymer Solutions ◽  
Concentration Level ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Polymer Flood

Abstract The economy of Trinidad and Tobago which mainly relies on its energy sector is facing significant challenges due to declining crude oil production in a low commodity price environment. The need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods to meet the current and future energy demands is urgent. Studies on the use of polymer flooding in Trinidad and Tobago are limited, especially in terms of necessary data concerning the characterization of the adsorption of polymer flooding chemicals such as xanthan gum and aquagel polymers on different soil types in Trinidad and the viscosity characteristics of the polymer flooding solutions which affect the key attributes of displacement and sweep efficiency that are needed to predict recovery efficiency and the potential use of these flooding agents in a particular well. Adsorption and viscosity experiments were conducted using xanthan gum and aquagel on three different soil types, namely sand, Valencia clay (high iron) and Longdenville clay (low iron). Xanthan gum exhibited the lowest adsorption capacity for Valencia clay but absorbed most on sand at concentrations above 1000 ppm and Longdenville clay below 1000 ppm. At concentrations below 250 ppm, all three soil-type absorbent materials exhibited similar adsorption capacities. Aquagel was more significantly absorbed on the three soil types compared to xanthan gum. The lowest adsorption capacity was observed for Valencia clay at concentration levels above 500 ppm; however, the clay had the highest adsorption capacity below this level. Sand had the highest adsorption capacity for aquagel at concentrations above 500 ppm while Longdenville clay was the lowest absorbent above 500 ppm. Generally, all three soil types had a similar adsorption capacity for xanthan gum at a concentration level of 250 ppm and for aquagel at a concentration level of 500 ppm. The results offered conclusive evidence demonstrating the importance that the pore structure characteristics of soil that may be present in oil wells on its adsorption characteristics and efficiency. Xanthan gum polymer concentration of 2000 ppm, 1000 ppm and 250 ppm showed viscosities of 125 cp, 63 cp and 42 cp, respectively. Aquagel polymer concentrations of 2000 ppm, 1000 ppm and 250 ppm showed viscosities of 63 cp, 42 cp and 21 cp, respectively. Aquagel polymer solutions were found to generally have lower viscosities than the xanthan gum polymer solutions at the same concentration. Adsorption and viscosity data for the xanthan gum and aquagel polymers were incorporated within CMG numerical simulation models to determine the technical feasibility of implementing a polymer flood in the selected EOR 44 located in the Oropouche field in the southwest peninsula of the island of Trinidad. Overall, aquagel polymer flood resulted in a higher oil recovery of 0.06 STB compared to the xanthan gum polymer flood, so the better EOR method would be aquagel polymer flood. Additionally, both cases of polymer flooding resulted in higher levels of oil recovery compared to CO2 injection and waterflooding and therefore polymer flooding will have greater impact on the EOR 44 well oil recovery.

Xanthan Biopolymer Semipilot Fermentation

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 205-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Norton ◽  
David O. Falk ◽  
Wayne E. Luetzelschwab
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Xanthomonas Campestris ◽  
Fermentation Broth ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Mobility Control ◽  
Preliminary Review ◽  
Bacterial Fermentation ◽  
Culture Techniques

Abstract Using standard microbiological techniques in a semipilot plant-scalable fermenter, xanthan-specific culture techniques developed by the U.S. Dept of Agriculture's Northern Regional Research Laboratory (NRRL) were used at Marathon Oil Co.'s Denver Research Center (DRC) to obtain improved and reproducible high conversions and yields of xanthan biopolymer broth. Practical nutrients and fermenter parameters were studied to define and improve the viscosity performance and economics of xanthan broth production for thickening water in the Maraflood(TM) enhanced oil recovery process. Introduction Xanthan gum biopolymer shows promise for enhanced oil recovery. One of its current major uses is in drilling muds. After a preliminary review of its characteristics and potential for manufacture by fermentation, a scalable laboratory pilot study was conducted at DRC to evaluate the suitability of several feedstocks and bacterial organisms.Our fermentation results confirm NRRL procedures and recommendations for this bacterial fermentation and indicate a number of practical feedstocks for producing high-viscosity broths. We can reproduce xanthan broths as viscous as those previously furnished to us by NRRL and various commercial suppliers interested in this potential market for enhanced oil recovery. Initial economic estimates indicate that xanthan broths can be made for about one-half the price of commercially available biopolymer.Our research to date on the biopolymer xanthan gum and fermentation broth is summarized. This includes the chemical and physical properties, synergistic interactions, salinity effects, physical and chemical modifications, chemical and biological stabilities, mobility control properties, and oil recovery performances in cores. Experimental results indicate that broad ranges of readily available carbohydrate and nitrogen sources are suitable and economical alternative substrates for this fermentation. Dissolved oxygen concentration and oxygen usage are practical parameters for monitoring the fermentation. Experimental Carbon and nitrogen sources from several commercial suppliers were screened. Staleydex(TM) 333 dextrose (a carbon source) and Brown-Forman corndistillers dried solubles (DDS) (a nitrogen source) were selected for reproducibility studies. Enzose E-084 cornstarch hydrolysate and Argo(TM) corn steep were furnished by Corn Products Corp.Several recommended strains of Xanthomonas campestris were obtained from the American Type Culture Bank and the NRRL in Peoria, IL. The strain selected for most of our investigation was NRRL B-1459-4L. A sample of Xanthomonas manihotis from the American Type Culture Bank also was evaluated. Apparatus A Psycrotherm controlled environmental incubator shaker was used to culture cells on plates and in liquid inocula. A 14-L Microferm(TM) fermenter obtained from the New Brunswick Scientific Co. (Fig. 1) had stirring, aeration, temperature control, pressure control, foam control, and pH control. SPEJ P. 205^

scholarly journals Concentration, Brine Salinity and Temperature effects on Xanthan Gum Solutions Rheology

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus Ribeiro Veiga de Moura ◽  
Rosângela Barros Zanoni Lopes Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Rheological Behavior ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Salt Content ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Mobility Control ◽  
Solution Viscosity ◽  
Heterogeneous Reservoirs ◽  
Reservoir Conditions

AbstractXanthan gum is a biopolymer used in several different industries for a variety of applications. In the Petroleum Industry, xanthan gum has been applied in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods for mobility control due to its Non-Newtonian rheological behavior, relative insensitivity to salinity and temperature compared to other conventional synthetic polymers, as well as its environmentally-friendly characteristics. As challenging reservoir conditions arise, candidate polymers should meet the screening factors for high salinity, high temperatures and heterogeneous reservoirs. This paper aims to evaluate the effects of temperature and monovalent salts on the rheological behavior of xanthan gum for Enhanced Oil Recovery purposes. We tested polymer solutions with brine salinities of 20,000/110,000/220,000 ppm of Sodium Chloride in a rheometer at temperatures of 23, 50, and 77°C. The results acquired showed that temperature plays a key role in viscosity and salinity protected the solution viscosity against negative thermal effects, unusually a turning point is observed where the increase in the monovalent salt content enhanced the polymeric solution viscosity. Such investigations coupled with a detailed discussion presented in the paper contribute to understand critical aspects of xanthan gum and its capability to provide basic requirements that fit desired screening factors for EOR.

Rheological investigation of xanthan gum–chromium gelation and its relation to enhanced oil recovery

2006 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariya Marudova-Zsivanovits ◽  
Nikolay Jilov ◽  
Elena Gencheva
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum

scholarly journals Bulk rheology characterization of biopolymer solutions and discussions of their potential for enhanced oil recovery applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-135
Author(s):  
Karl Jan Clinckspoor ◽  
Vitor Hugo de Sousa Ferreira ◽  
Rosangela Barros Zanoni Lopes Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Activation Energy ◽  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Guar Gum ◽  
Synthetic Polymers ◽  
Mechanical Degradation ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
Temperature Levels ◽  
Overlap Concentration

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques are essential to improve oil production, and polymer flooding has become one of the promising technologies for the Brazilian Pre-Salt scenario. Biopolymers offer a range of advantages considering the Pre-Salt conditions compared to synthetic polymers, such as resistance to high salinity, high temperature, and mechanical degradation. In that sense, bulk rheology is the first step in a workflow for performance analysis. This paper presents a rheological analysis of four biopolymers (Schizophyllan, Scleroglucan, Guar Gum, and Xanthan Gum) in concentrations from 10 to 2,300 ppm, generally suitable for EOR applications, in temperature levels of 25, 40, 50, 60 and 70°C and two brines of 30,100 ppm and 69,100 ppm total dissolved solids, which aim to model seawater and the mixture between injected seawater and reservoir water typical in Pre-Salt conditions. The pseudoplastic behavior, the overlap concentration, and the activation energy were determined for each polymer solution. The structural differences in the polymers resulted in different rheological behaviors. Schizophyllan is the most promising, as its viscosifying power is higher than synthetic polymers comparable to Xanthan Gum.  Its resistance at high temperatures is higher than that of synthetic polymers. Scleroglucan behaved similarly to Xanthan Gum, with the added advantage of being nonionic. Guar Gum had the lowest viscosities, highest overlap concentrations, and most pronounced viscosity decay among the tested polymers. To the author’s knowledge, rheological studies of the biopolymers presented here, considering the viscosities and the overlap concentration and activation energy, in the Pre-salt conditions, are not available in the literature and this will benefit future works that depend on this information

scholarly journals Investigation of Stability of CO2 Microbubbles—Colloidal Gas Aphrons for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Definitive Screening Design

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Nam Nguyen Hai Le ◽  
Yuichi Sugai ◽  
Kyuro Sasaki
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Polymer Concentration ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Screening Design ◽  
Stirring Rate ◽  
Definitive Screening ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Definitive Screening Design

CO2 microbubbles have recently been used in enhanced oil recovery for blocking the high permeability zone in heterogeneous reservoirs. Microbubbles are colloidal gas aphrons stabilized by thick shells of polymer and surfactant. The stability of CO2 microbubbles plays an important role in improving the performance of enhanced oil recovery. In this study, a new class of design of experiment (DOE)—definitive screening design (DSD) was employed to investigate the effect of five quantitative parameters: xanthan gum polymer concentration, sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant concentration, salinity, stirring time, and stirring rate. This is a three-level design that required only 11 experimental runs. The results suggest that DSD successfully evaluated how various parameters contribute to CO2 microbubble stability. The definitive screening design revealed a polynomial regression model has ability to estimate the main effect factor, two-factor interactions and pure-quadratic effect of factors with high determination coefficients for its smaller number of experiments compared to traditional design of experiment approach. The experimental results showed that the stability depend primarily on xanthan gum polymer concentration. It was also found that the stability of CO2 microbubbles increases at a higher sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant concentration and stirring rate, but decreases with increasing salinity. In addition, several interactions are presented to be significant including the polymer–salinity interaction, surfactant–salinity interaction and stirring rate–salinity interaction.

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