7 classic must-read polymer flood applications

How do you get up to speed on polymer flooding quickly from a field implementation perspective?

Taking a class is fine. Skimming a text book is great. Reading a few technical papers is okay. Attending a lecture might help.

But if you want a real look at polymer field implementations you need to read polymer flood applications submitted to the regulator. Each application is ground truthed to actual UWIs. Each application is adjudicated by a picky regulator.

1. Primer

One operator started a new polymer flood. In his justification, he discussed the earliest polymer floods in the province. He describes polymer flooding with primer-like detail.

You can see his application documents in moments by clicking on the button below labelled 'Buy these application documents now.'

If you are operating or planning a polymer flood, you must to read this and 6 other classic polymer applications.

2. Polymer diverter trial

One operator tried a new type of polymer to divert water in a water flooded reservoir. The polymer is named nanospheres. He belived that the nanospheres will set up in water-frequented pathways. If successful, this polymer will force injection water into unswept portions of the reservoir.

3. High salinity polymer polymer flood

The AER recently approved an expansion of a successful ASP flood. All the details of the lab studies and field pilot are included in the application. They predict an additional recovery range of 10-13%. Sensitivity of polymer to brine water hardness and reservoir temperature was examined. They propose a mixture of vertical and horizontal polymer injector wells.

4. Polymer doubles recovery

In his application documents, he shows a recent polymer flood where he is already reducing GOR and water cut. He's sure he can improve recovery by at least double using this injection fluid. His oil is 14 degree API.

5. Injecting polymer without plugging off

A common problem with polymer and related ASP flooding technology is the injector plugging. One operator believes they have found the solution. They believe they have found a particular polymer chemistry that won't form a gel structure until the differential pressure is decreased to a transition pressure.

6. Polymer injection pattern

One operator is quadrupling an ASP flood. His application contains his work on injectant composition and his injection pattern.

7. Life after polymer

One operator gave up on a polymer flood and returned it to water injection. Although their pilot technically worked it didn't meet their corporate hurdles. You can read all about the analysis of the flood in these application documents.

Tags: Polymer, Heavy Oil

Granger Low  15 Feb 2017

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