1D simulation of polymer flooding including the viscoelastic effect of polymer solution

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/19499-PA· OSTI ID:5251307

Masuda, Y; Tang, K C; Miyazawa, M; Tanaka, S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tokyo (JP)

This paper reports that simple simulation models are constructed to predict the performance of 1D polymer flooding. In the models, two phases of oil and polymer solution were assumed to be immiscible with each other. Because the displacing fluid was non-Newtonian, the Buckley-Leverett equation could be modified and a new approach developed to calculate fractional-flow curves. The rheological behavior of polymer solution was modeled with an Ellis type model and a viscoelastic model. To verify the models, two 1D flooding experiments were carried out on 2.8-cm-diameter, 47-cm-long, unconsolidated cores packed with glass beads (70/100 mesh). Porosities of the cores are about 37% and permeabilities are around 26{mu}m{sup 2}. Two white mineral oils of viscosities 25 and 60 mPa {center dot} s and a 200-ppm polyacrylamide solution were used. In each experiment, polymer flooding was done after waterflooding. Initial water saturation was controlled to be almost the same at the start of each flood. The calculated polymer-flooding performances were compared with experimental data. On the other hand, the viscoelastic model predicted fractional-flow curves, oil recovery performances, and breakthrough times of the experiments very well. The viscoelastic effect of polymer solution is thought to play an important role in the improvement of oil recovery.

• OSTI ID: 5251307
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Engineering; (United States), Vol. 7:2; ISSN 0885-9248
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
POLYMERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
WELL STIMULATION
CALCULATION METHODS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-PHASE FLOW
VISCOSITY
VISCOUS FLOW
DATA
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
STIMULATION
TESTING
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
023000 - Petroleum- Properties & Composition