Applying of the associative polymer solutions to enhance oil recovery

Abstract

Purpose of this report to inform the petroleum readership of recent advances in areas of the associative polymer flooding. Polymer flooding is the industrial enhanced oil recovery method, which successfully has applied in various types of reservoirs. The polymer flooding for high-temperature and high-salinity reservoir faces enormous challenges. Hydrolyzed polymer has been used as the main polymer type for the polymer flooding. Now researchers have turned their attention to associative polymer solutions. This report presents an overview of the associative polymer flooding. Some recent projects have shown an expanding technology. This report reviews published results of the use of associative polymers to enhance oil recovery in recent years. The associative polymer flooding is one enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method being developed recently to increase the oil supply. Polymer flooding application in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs is currently limited by polymers chemically and thermally degradation at high temperature and salinity. The associative polymer solutions improve the over-all reservoir conformance by providing mobility control. Water is injected after the polymer solution. Based on the number of new laboratory and pilot tests, field activity is continuing at a moderate level.