SPE Production & Operations
Volume 24, Number 4, November 2009, 590-601

SPE-115974-PA

Novel Insights Into Microgel Systems for Water Control

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DOI  More information 10.2118/115974-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/115974-PA

Citation

  • Cozic, C., Rousseau, D., and Tabary, R. 2009. Novel Insights Into Microgel Systems for Water Control. SPE Prod & Oper  24 (4): 590-601. SPE-115974-PA. doi: 10.2118/115974-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 5 Production and Operations
  • 5.3.1 Well Candidate Recognition
  • 5.3.6 Produced Water Management and Control

Summary

The performances of water-shutoff and conformance-control microgels were investigated extensively in previous works (Chauveteau et al. 2004; Rousseau et al. 2005; Zaitoun et al. 2007). However, a broad range of potential application cases for microgels involves harsh conditions such as high-salinity reservoir brines. This paper studies how high salinity impacts microgel properties and treatment efficiency.

In order to provide specifications for optimum microgel dissolution, viscosity measurements and filterability tests of microgel solutions through calibrated membrane filters were first performed in an extended domain of brine salinities. Then, coreflood experiments in model granular packs were carried out with microgels diluted in brines of various salinities and at various microgel concentrations. These tests evaluate the injectivity and determine the permeability reductions. After microgel injection, the packs were flushed with brines of different salinities, and the permeability reductions were determined under these new conditions. These additional tests were aimed at reproducing the field conditions when setting a well back in production after a microgel treatment.

Results showed that the hydrodynamic thicknesses of adsorbed layers did not vary significantly when microgels were injected in brines of moderate to high salinities. At very high salinity (200 g/L NaCl with calcium), a shear-controlled overadsorption of the microgels was observed. Results also showed that adsorbed layers of microgels were very stable when exposed to brines of low to very high salinity. These positive outcomes bring new encouraging insights for the success of microgel applications.

© 2009. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 7 July 2008
  • Meeting paper published: 21 September 2008
  • Revised manuscript received: 5 May 2009
  • Manuscript approved: 19 May 2009
  • Published online: 29 October 2009
  • Version of record: 25 November 2009