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Laboratory core floods to support the El Dorado micellar-polymer project

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5876269

Two distinct micellar-polymer processes are being tested in the El Dorado Project. In one pilot area, an oil external micellar system followed by partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solution is being tested. In the north pattern, an aqueous surfactant system followed by xanthan gum solution is being implemented. The oil external process (preflush, micellar slug, and polymer drive) was designed by Union Oil Company Shell Development Company is the process vendor for the high-water content surfactant system. Throughout the project, laboratory work has been required to evaluate various substitute chemicals when such substitutions were deemed necessary and feasible. Several short core flow tests were conducted using Berea sandstone cores and Admire sandstone (field) cores to investigate the effects of various changes on the effectiveness of the 2 micellar-polymer processes. Oil recoveries using either the oil external or the aqueous system were found to be lower in field cores than in Berea cores. Higher oil recoveries were obtained with both surfactant processes as chemical slug size increased. Oil recovery using the oil external system appeared to be less sensitive to chemical slug size than the aqueous system. 12 references.

OSTI ID:
5876269
Report Number(s):
CONF-790913-
Journal Information:
Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE-8197; ISSN SEAPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English