SPE Journal
Volume 16, Number 1, March 2011, pp. 35-42

SPE-129200-PA

New Insights Into Polymer Rheology in Porous Media

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DOI  More information 10.2118/129200-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/129200-PA

Citation

  • Seright, R.S., Fan, T., Wavrik, K., and Balaban, R.d.C. 2011. New Insights Into Polymer Rheology in Porous Media. SPE J.  16 (1): 35-42. SPE-129200-PA. doi: 10.2118/129200-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 6.4.6 Chemical Flooding Methods Methods (e.g., Polymer, Solvent, Nitrogen, Immiscible CO2, Surfactant, Vapex)
  • 6.3.1 Flow in Porous Media
  • 6.3.3 Conformance Improvement

Keywords

  • polymer flooding, polymer rheology in porous media

Summary

This paper clarifies the rheology of xanthan and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solutions in porous media, especially at low velocities. Previous literature reported resistance factors (effective viscosities in porous media) and an apparent shear thinning at low fluxes that were noticeably greater than what is expected on the basis of viscosity measurements. The polymer component that causes the latter behavior is shown to propagate quite slowly and generally will not penetrate deep into a formation. Particularly for HPAM solutions, this behavior can be reduced or eliminated for solutions that experience mechanical degradation or flow through a few feet of porous rock. Under practical conditions where HPAM is used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the degree of shear thinning is slight or nonexistent, especially compared to the level of shear thickening that occurs at high fluxes.

© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 19 January 2010
  • Meeting paper published: 25 April 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 16 June 2010
  • Manuscript approved: 22 June 2010
  • Published online: 11 November 2010
  • Version of record: 15 March 2011