Development of a new aluminum/polymer gel system for permeability adjustment
A new method for gelling polyacrylamide with aluminum has been developed to reduce the effect of reservoir heterogeneity, resulting in improved waterflood efficiency and higher oil recovery. The method uses a soluble aluminum compound in a high-pH, nonreactive form that is mixed directly with the polymer at optimum concentrations. Polymer gelling occurs in the reservoir when reactive aluminum is generated by consumption of hydroxyl ions. Variations in gel strength and gel time are obtained by adjusting polymer and aluminate concentrations in the slug to the desired levels. This process has several advantages over the current aluminum citrate technology as well as the chromium redox bulk gel system. Although the process works best in freshwater systems, it can be modified to accommodate waters with higher brine content. Laboratory development of the process and a successful profile modification field trial are described.
- Research Organization:
- Unocal Corp.
- OSTI ID:
- 6776379
- Journal Information:
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 2:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
OIL WELLS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BRINES
GELS
HETEROGENEOUS EFFECTS
MIXING
OIL YIELDS
PERMEABILITY
PH VALUE
POLYAMIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FLUID INJECTION
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
WELLS
YIELDS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production