How does Oilfield Polyacrylamide help in enhanced oil recovery (EOR)?

ON 06 . Mar . 2024

Oilfield Polyacrylamide plays a significant role in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes due to its ability to modify the rheological properties of fluids and improve the efficiency of oil displacement.

Viscosity Modification: Oilfield Polyacrylamide can be used to increase the viscosity of water, which is commonly used as a displacing fluid in EOR methods such as water flooding. By increasing the viscosity of the injected water, polyacrylamide improves its ability to sweep through the reservoir and displace more oil.

Water Mobility Control: In water flooding operations, one challenge is the tendency of water to channel through high-permeability zones in the reservoir, leaving behind significant oil pockets. Polyacrylamide can help control the mobility of water by reducing its tendency to channel, thereby improving the sweep efficiency and ensuring better contact between the injected water and the oil.

Polymer Flooding: Polymer flooding is a type of EOR method where polymer solutions, including Oilfield Polyacrylamide, are injected into the reservoir to displace oil. The polymer solution forms a viscous bank that moves through the reservoir, pushing oil towards production wells. Polyacrylamide is particularly effective in polymer flooding due to its high molecular weight and ability to provide significant viscosity enhancement.

Improvement of Sweep Efficiency: Oilfield Polyacrylamide helps to improve the sweep efficiency of the displacing fluid by reducing fingering effects and bypassed oil zones. This leads to better reservoir sweep and ultimately higher oil recovery.

Reduction of Water Production: In mature oil fields, water production along with oil is often an issue. By improving the efficiency of water flooding operations through the use of Oilfield Polyacrylamide, the amount of water produced can be reduced, leading to higher oil-to-water ratios and increased overall oil production.

Overall, Oilfield Polyacrylamide enhances the effectiveness of EOR techniques by modifying fluid properties, controlling water mobility, and improving sweep efficiency, ultimately leading to increased oil recovery from reservoirs.