Behavior of polymers in porous media

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:7301321

Hill, H J; Brew, J R; Claridge, E L; Hite, J R; Pope, G A

Polyacrylamide (and the partially hydrolyzed form) and biopolysaccharide (produced by the plant pathogen Xanthomonas compestries) are compared for use in enhanced oil recovery. The viscosity imparted to a waterflood by polysaccharide is less reduced by mechanical degradation and increased salt concentration than is the case for the acrylamide thickened flood. Large amounts of the polyacrylamide are required for high permeability rock and a highly saline aqueous phase. The biopolymer degrades chemically at high temperatures. However, the thermal stability of the acrylamide is not established above 140/sup 0/F. The polyacrylamide has relatively long-term stability, unlike the biopolymer. This lack of long-term stability for the biopolymer is not entirely due to the presence of oxygen in the flood. Both polymers form gels under various conditions. Gel formation occurs if the biopolymer flood contains multivalent cations, comes in contact with alkaline minerals in the reservoir rock, and has the appropriate pH. The polyacrylamide flood forms gels or precipitates with certain organic cations and multivalent inorganic cations. It was noted that the transport properties of the biopolymer flood may be a function of pH.

• OSTI ID: 7301321
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CARBOHYDRATES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYSACCHARIDES
POROUS MATERIALS
SACCHARIDES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS