Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

East Coalinga polymer project: polymer comparisons. [California]

Conference · · Prepr. Int. Nomads Petrol. Expo. Symp.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6449107
Shell Oil Co. conducted a series of injection and filtration tests in the E. Colainga field, California, to determine the injection characteristics of biopolymer and polyacrylamides. The choice of Xanflood biopolymer was made in order to evaluate the relative merits of polymer flooding and waterflooding in the Temblor Zone II reservoir. Conclusions to the field injection tests were (1) Xanflood biopolymers maintain their mobility properties during these tests; (2) it is possible to remove unhydrated Xanflood biopolymer or unhydrated biopolymer and bacterial debris with DE Filtration without significant loss in biopolymer viscosity; (3) the introduction of an optimum level of shear in the biopolymer mixing process increases the mobility control available for a given concentration of polymer; (4) currently available commercial biopolymers cause well-bore impairment so that effective filtration of the polymer solution is required to maintain injectivity; (5) at test injection rates (33 bpd/ft), polyacrylamide loses most of its mobility control by shear degradation at the injection well perforations; (6) polyacrylamide can be delivered to the sand face without severe loss of viscosity; and (7) polyacrylamide will not impair the formation. (12 refs.)
Research Organization:
Merck and Co., Inc.
OSTI ID:
6449107
Report Number(s):
CONF-760585-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Prepr. Int. Nomads Petrol. Expo. Symp.; (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English