Polymer Flooding using Nanomaterials: Advances/Recent Trends in Polymetric Nanomaterials

Abstract

Abstract Implementing polymer flooding offshore involves various considerations. Managing large polymer volumes cost-effectively is a practical challenge, requiring maintained rheological properties during transit from surface facilities into the reservoir. Simulations are essential to predict polymer flow in the reservoir, identifying significant mechanisms at the pore and core scales for field behavior. This paper focuses on polymer flooding, a widely used chemical enhanced-oil-recovery technique, providing an update on technology status with an emphasis on field applications rather than theoretical or laboratory research. Topics covered include mechanisms of polymer flooding, types of polymers used, polymer-solution stability, technical screening criteria, laboratory and simulation work, performance-monitoring techniques, summaries of pilots and large-scale applications, experiences and insights from field projects, polymer flooding in heavy-oil reservoirs, polymer viscoelastic properties, issues associated with polymer flooding, and potential solutions. The presented data and analysis offer readers updated information on polymer flooding, serving as a guide for relevant research. Survey data also provides operators with reference information for project design and optimization, contributing to the understanding and improvement of polymer flooding practices.