Coalinga polymer demonstration project. Final report, July 1976-December 1980

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6645781

Peterson, J E

Water injection began in June 1976 and continued through April 1978. Polymer was injected continuously in the four pilot injectors from May 1978 to October 1979. Water injection was resumed from November 1979 to December 1980. The overall production performance for the pilot was far less than expected. Oil production rate was below the expected primary decline rate when the project was terminated in December 1980. Though the operation of the polymer injection facilities met or exceeded the specifications required, polymer injectivity was substantially lower than predicted (200 BPD actual versus 1000 BPD minimum predicted). Reservoir parameters at the beginning of the project (July 1976) were reassessed with new petrophysical and performance data. Results of this study indicate that existing oil saturations were only 0.39 versus 0.54 originally predicted. The waterflood residual oil saturation was also increased from 0.235 to 0.28. Thus, the waterflood target was greatly reduced. Final results indicate that polymer flooding is not a viable process in the Zone II Temblor sands in this portion of the East Coalinga Field.

• Research Organization: Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-77ET13001
• OSTI ID: 6645781
• Report Number(s): DOE/SAN/1556-5; ON: DE82007019
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CALIFORNIA
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION IX
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MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
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OIL SATURATION
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
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WATERFLOODING
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