Use of Preformed Gels for Conformance Control in Fractured Systems

Abstract

Summary Using wide ranges of gel age, gel velocity, and fracture conductivity or tube diameter, Cr(III)-acetate-HPAM gels were studied as they extruded through fractures and tubes. Gels exhibited shear-thinning behavior in fractures and tubes that correlated with the gel superficial velocity and the fracture width or tube diameter. In fractures with sufficiently small widths, gels dehydrated during extrusion, thus reducing the rate of gel propagation. This effect was more pronounced as the fracture width decreased. Using the experimental results, a numerical study was conducted to compare placement of preformed gels and water-like gelants.