Performance Evaluation of Thermally-Activated Polymers for Conformance Correction Applications

Abstract

AbstractA comprehensive laboratory study was performed to look at a thermally activated polymer (TAP) for conformance correction applications. The focus of study was to see if BrightWater® (a TAP polymer) could perform in high permeability porous media by creating flow resistance to injected fluid, hence enhancing the sweep efficiency. Furthermore, the possibility of enhancing the TAP performance by increasing the solution concentration was investigated. A set of 20-inch long slimtubes packed with acid-washed quartz sand were used to evaluate the performance of two TAP grades at 85°C in a range of 1 to 5 Darcy. Additionally, another set of short slimtubes were used to examine the performance of two low-temperature activation TAP grades at 30°C in the range of 200 to 1300 md.Results showed that residual resistance factor (RRF) values of 2 to 12 could be achieved at 5000 ppm active concentration for the range of permeability tested here. RRF values increased by increasing the concentration to 10,000 ppm active polymer. Low-temperature activation polymers showed RRF values of 10 to 50 depending on the permeability of the short sandpacks tested at 30°C. TAP simulation approaches are also described.