Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Experiences in Colombia: Field Pilots Review

Abstract

Abstract Polymer injection is a technique that has been applied worldwide to improve oil reservoir volumetric sweep efficiency and increase the recovery factor. Different applications using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymers have been carried out in some Colombian fields since 2011. Several pilots have been implemented to test both technical and economic feasibility. This article summarizes the pilot's results and the lessons learned. The different polymer technologies evaluated for chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) are i) Colloidal dispersion gels (CDG) for mobility control and deep divergence executed in Dina Cretáceo and Tello fields, ii) Polymer flooding for mobility control executed in Yariguí- Cantagallo, Casabe, Palogrande-Cebu, Chichimene, and La Cira- Infantas, iii) Alkaline-Surfactant Polymer (ASP) flooding to increase recovery executed in San Francisco, and Caracara Sur fields. The results of pilots have caused a positive impact, such as an increase in oil production and a decrease in water production, improving the recovery factor in the influenced reservoir volume. The advances in the last decade have increased the interest in applying polymer injection technologies in different Colombian fields. This article reviews Colombian references and our experience in the first designs and polymer applications in the field. From their view, a short state-of-the-art description of the characteristics of each polymer technology was structured, as well as the objectives and results of each pilot implemented factors such as design, operating conditions during its execution, and process efficiency.