The effects of mechanical degradation and viscoelastic behavior on injectivity of polyacrylamide solutions

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/9297-PA· OSTI ID:5418597

Seright, R S

Results of recent experiments that clarify the effects of mechanical degradation and viscoelastic behavior on the flow of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solutions through porous media are presented. From these results, a simple model that may be used to predict injectivity of polyacrylamide solutions is developed. Injection pressures for linear corefloods are shown to be separable into two components: an initial pressure drop associated with the entrance of polymer into the sandstone and a constant pressure gradient throughout the remainder of the core. Entrance pressure drop is zero until the polymer solution flux increases to the rate where mechanical degradation takes place. Thereafter, entrance pressure drop and the degree of polymer mechanical degradation increase with increasing flux. These observations suggest that the entrance pressure drop is associated closely with the process of polymer mechanical degradation. A new correlation is developed that may be used to determine entrance pressure drop and the level of mechanical degradation directly as a function of sandface flux, permeability, and porosity. This correlation is more convenient to apply and less dependent on flow geometry than previous correlations. Based on these observations, a model is developed that may be used to estimate injectivity of polyacrylamide solutions in linear or radial flow geometries.

• Research Organization: Exxon Production Research Co.
• OSTI ID: 5418597
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Vol. 23:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
FLUID INJECTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PRESSURE DROP
OIL WELLS
POLYACRYLATES
DECOMPOSITION
ELASTICITY
VISCOSITY
CORRELATIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
POROSITY
RESERVOIR ROCK
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
ESTERS
INFORMATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
RECOVERY
TENSILE PROPERTIES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production