Low Polymer Retention Opens for Field Implementation of Polymer Flooding in High Salinity Carbonate Reservoirs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Skauge ◽  
Tormod Skauge ◽  
Shahram Pourmohamadi ◽  
Jonas Solbakken ◽  
Abduljelil Sultan Kedir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Salinity ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Polymer Retention

Low Polymer Retention Possible in Flooding of High-Salinity Carbonate Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 60-61
Author(s):  
Chris Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Material Balance ◽  
Synthetic Polymers ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Reservoir Rock ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Polymer Retention

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 202809, “Low Polymer Retention Opens for Field Implementation of Polymer Flooding in High-Salinity Carbonate Reservoirs,” by Arne Skauge, SPE, and Tormod Skauge, SPE, Energy Research Norway, and Shahram Pourmohamadi, Brent Asmari, et al., prepared for the 2020 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, held virtually 9–12 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Polymer flooding has been a successful enhanced-oil-recovery method in sandstone reservoirs for decades. Extending polymer flooding to carbonate reservoirs has been challenging because of adsorption loss and polymer availability for high-temperature, high-salinity (HT/HS) reservoirs. In this study, the authors establish that HT/HS polymers can exhibit low adsorption and retention in carbonate reservoir rock at ultrahigh salinity conditions. Introduction Retention is a key factor for polymer propagation and acceleration of oil production by polymer flooding. In the complete paper, the authors consider HT/HS applications for carbonate reservoirs. Synthetic polymers such as partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide are not thermally stable at temperatures above 60°C. The thermal stability of the synthetic polymers can be improved by incorporating monomers. To evaluate the retention of polymer in reservoir rock, dynamic retention experiments were performed in the presence and absence of oil. In homogeneous rock, the presence of residual oil typically will reduce the retention proportional to the surface covered by the oil saturation. Strongly heterogeneous rock containing fractures also may have low retention because the fluid flow mainly may be through highly permeable fractures or channels and, consequently, only part of the porous medium will contact polymer. Retention in carbonate matrix displacement (homogeneous rock) was performed on outcrop Indiana limestone for reference, but most experiments were made on reservoir rock material. The polymer used is SAV 10. Experimental Methods The easiest and, in many cases, most-accurate method for quantifying retention in dynamic coreflow experiments is by material balance. This refers to the measurement of the polymer in the effluent. The injected amount minus the backproduced amount of polymer gives the loss caused by transport through the porous medium. The retention includes both adsorption of polymer onto the rock and dynamic loss as the result of mechanical entrapment such as molecular straining and concentration blocking. In most cases, the authors used a passive tracer injected with the polymer and applied two slugs. The first slug quantifies the retention by material balance, but the difference in effluent of the second slug minus the first slug also can give an alternative measurement of the polymer retention. Comparing tracer and polymer effluent concentrations from the second polymer slug quantifies the inaccessible pore volume (IPV). The experimental setup is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Polymer in-Situ Rheology in Carbonate Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tormod Skauge ◽  
Kenneth Sorbie ◽  
Ali Al-Sumaiti ◽  
Shehadeh Masalmeh ◽  
Arne Skauge
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Solution ◽  
Carbonate Rock ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Resistance Factor ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Permeability Reduction ◽  
Polymer Flood ◽  
Core Flood

Abstract A large, untapped EOR potential may be extracted by extending polymer flooding to carbonate reservoirs. However, several challenges are encountered in carbonates due to generally more heterogeneous rock and lower permeability. In addition, high salinity may lead to high polymer retention. Here we show how in-situ viscosity varies with permeability and heterogeneity in carbonate rock from analysis of core flood results and combined with review of data available in literature. In-situ rheology experiments were performed on both carbonate outcrop and reservoir cores with a range in permeabilities. The polymer used was a high ATBS content polyacrylamide (SAV10) which tolerates high temperature and high salinity. Some cores were aged with crude oil to generate non-water-wet, reservoir representative wettability conditions. These results are compared to a compilation of literature data on in-situ rheology for predominantly synthetic polymers in various carbonate rock. A systematic approach was utilized to derive correlations for resistance factor, permeability reduction and in-situ viscosity as a function of rock and polymer properties. Polymer flooding is applied to improve sweep efficiency that may occur due to reservoir heterogeneities (large permeability contrasts, anisotropy, thief zones) or adverse mobility ratio (high mobility contrast oil-brine). In flooding design, the viscosity of the polymer solution in the reservoir, the in-situ viscosity, is an essential parameter as this is tuned to correct the mobility difference and to improve sweep. The viscosity is estimated from rheometer/viscometer measurements or, better, measured in laboratory core flood experiments. However, upscaling core flood experiments to field is challenging. Core flood experiments measure differential pressure, which is the basis for the resistance factor, RF, that describes the increased resistance to flow for polymer relative to brine. However, the pressure is also influenced by several other factors such as the permeability reduction caused by adsorption and retention of polymer in the rock, the tortuosity of the rock and the viscosity of the flowing polymer solution. Deduction of in-situ viscosity is straight forward using Darcy's law but the capillary bundle model that is the basis for applying this law fails for non-Newtonian fluids. This is particularly evident in carbonate rock. Interpretation of in-situ rheology experiments can therefore be misleading if the wrong assumptions are made. Polymer flooding in carbonate reservoirs has a large potential for increased utilization of petroleum reserves at a reduced CO2 footprint. In this paper we apply learnings from an extensive core flood program for a polymer flood project in the UAE and combine this with reported literature data to generate a basis for interpretation of in-situ rheology experiments in carbonates. Most importantly, we suggest a methodology to screen experiments and select data to be used as basis for modelling polymer flooding. This improves polymer flood design, optimize the polymer consumption, and thereby improve project economy and energy efficiency.

Extending Polymer Flooding Towards High-Temperature and High-Salinity Carbonate Reservoirs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shehadeh Masalmeh ◽  
Ali AlSumaiti ◽  
Nicolas Gaillard ◽  
Frederic Daguerre ◽  
Tormod Skauge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs

Assessment on the Transport of Polymeric Solution through High-Salinity Reservoirs Containing Divalent Cations

2013 ◽  
Vol 807-809 ◽  
pp. 2607-2611
Author(s):  
Byung In Choi ◽  
Moon Sik Jeong ◽  
Kun Sang Lee
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Polymer Concentration ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
Chemical Theory ◽  
Bottom Hole ◽  
Reservoir Conditions

Water salinity and hardness have been regarded as main limitation for field application of polymer floods. It causes not only reduction of polymer concentration, but also injectivity loss in the near wellbore. Based on the mathematical and chemical theory, extensive numerical simulations were conducted to investigate performance of polymer floods in the high-salinity reservoirs. According to results from simulations, the high salinity reduces the viscosity of polymer in contacting area. That causes a poor sweep efficiency of polymer flooding. Moreover, the presence of divalent cations makes the project of polymer flooding worse. That is because of excessively increased bottom-hole pressure in injection well by the precipitation of polymer. The quantitative assessment of polymer floods needs to be required before field application. Therefore, the results in this paper are helpful for optimal polymer flooding design under harsh reservoir conditions.

Expanding Polymer Injectivity Tests on a Second Giant Carbonate UAE Oil Reservoir at High Salinity & High Temperature Conditions.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Baloch ◽  
J.M. Leon ◽  
S.K. Masalmeh ◽  
D. Chappell ◽  
J. Brodie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Polymer Solution ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
Tertiary Butyl ◽  
Solution Preparation

Abstract Over the last few years, ADNOC has systematically investigated a new polymer-based EOR scheme to improve sweep efficiency in high temperature and high salinity (HTHS) carbonate reservoirs in Abu Dhabi (Masalmeh et al., 2014). Consequently, ADNOC has developed a thorough de-risking program for the new EOR concept in these carbonate reservoirs. The de-risking program includes extensive laboratory experimental studies and field injectivity tests to ensure that the selected polymer can be propagated in the target reservoirs. A new polymer with high 2-acrylamido-tertiary-butyl sulfonic acid (ATBS) content was identified, based on extensive laboratory studies (Masalmeh, et al., 2019, Dupuis, et al., 2017, Jouenne 2020), and an initial polymer injectivity test (PIT) was conducted in 2019 at 250°F and salinity >200,000 ppm, with low H2S content (Rachapudi, et al., 2020, Leon and Masalmeh, 2021). The next step for ADNOC was to extend polymer application to harsher field conditions, including higher H2S content. Accordingly, a PIT was designed in preparation for a multi-well pilot This paper presents ADNOC's follow-up PIT, which expands the envelope of polymer flooding to dissolve H2S concentrations of 20 - 40 ppm to confirm injectivity at representative field conditions and in situ polymer performance. The PIT was executed over five months, from February 2021 to July 2021, followed by a chase water flood that will run until December 2021. A total of 108,392 barrels of polymer solution were successfully injected during the PIT. The extensive dataset acquired was used to assess injectivity and in-depth mobility reduction associated with the new polymer. Preliminary results from the PIT suggest that all key performance indicators have been achieved, with a predictable viscosity yield and good injectivity at target rates, consistent with the laboratory data. The use of a down-hole shut-in tool (DHSIT) to acquire pressure fall-off (PFO) data clarified the near-wellbore behaviour of the polymer and allowed optimisation of the PIT programme. This paper assesses the importance of water quality on polymer solution preparation and injection performance and reviews operational data acquired during the testing period. Polymer properties determined during the PIT will be used to optimise field and sector models and will facilitate the evaluation of polymer EOR in other giant, heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs, leading to improved recovery in ADNOC and Middle East reservoirs.

Surfactant Adsorption in Surfactant-Polymer Flooding for Carbonate Reservoirs

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinxun Wang ◽  
Ming Han ◽  
Alhasan B. Fuseni ◽  
Dongqing Cao
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Flooding ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Surfactant Adsorption

Polymer Injection to Unlock Bypassed Oil in a Giant Carbonate Reservoir: Bridging the Gap Between Laboratory and Large Scale Polymer Project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement Fabbri ◽  
Haitham Ali Al Saadi ◽  
Ke Wang ◽  
Flavien Maire ◽  
Carolina Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Salinity ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Laboratory Work ◽  
High Permeability ◽  
Polymer Injection ◽  
Single Well ◽  
Pilot Design

Abstract Polymer flooding has long been proposed to improve sweep efficiency in heterogeneous reservoirs where polymer enhances cross flow between layers and forces water into the low permeability layers, leading to more homogeneous saturation profile. Although this approach could unlock large volumes of by-passed oil in layered carbonate reservoirs, compatibility of polymer solutions with high salinity - high temperature carbonate reservoirs has been hindering polymer injection projects in such harsh conditions. The aim of this paper is to present the laboratory work, polymer injection field test results and pilot design aimed to unlock target tertiary oil recovery in a highly heterogeneous mixed to oil-wet giant carbonate reservoir. This paper focuses on a highly layered limestone reservoir with various levels of cyclicity in properties. This reservoir may be divided in two main bodies, i.e., an Upper zone and a Lower zone with permeability contrast of up to two orders of magnitude. The main part of the reservoir is currently under peripheral and mid-flank water injection. Field observations show that injected water tends to channel quickly through the Upper zone along the high permeability layers and bypass the oil in the Lower zone. Past studies have indicated that this water override phenomenon is caused by a combination of high permeability contrast and capillary forces which counteract gravity forces. In this setting, adequate polymer injection strategy to enhance cross-flow between these zones is investigated, building on laboratory and polymer injection test field results. A key prerequisite for defining such EOR development scenario is to have representative static and dynamic models that captures the geological heterogeneity of this kind of reservoirs. This is achieved by an improved and integrated reservoir characterization, modelling and water injection history matching procedure. The history matched model was used to investigate different polymer injection schemes and resulted in an optimum pilot design. The injection scheme is defined based on dynamic simulations to maximize value, building on results from single-well polymer injection test, laboratory work and on previous published work, which have demonstrated the potential of polymer flooding for this reservoir. Our study evidences the positive impact of polymer propagation at field scale, improving the water-front stability, which is a function of pressure gradient near producer wells. Sensitivities to the position and number of polymer injectors have been performed to identify the best injection configuration, depending on the existing water injection scheme and the operating constraints. The pilot design proposed builds on laboratory work and field monitoring data gathered during single-well polymer injection field test. Together, these elements represent building blocks to enable tertiary polymer recovery in giant heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs with high temperature - high salinity conditions.

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