EOR Polymer Flooding - Lessons Learnt from Field Applications (PRO15)

Description

Polymer flooding has been recognised as an effective Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method for many years. This course is focused on the realisation of a polymer field project and will discuss different failures and successful field projects worldwide in detail.
The course covers a review of the basic principles of polymer flooding, description of water-soluble polymers, screening procedures and other lab tests for product quality, retention/adsorption control and polymer selection. Other features include microbial and oxygen impact on field applications as well as mixing with produced water, injection control and surveillance guidelines for the whole project. Several international field projects including their current status will also be highlighted.

Course Level: Advanced
Duration: 5 days
Instructor: Wolfram Kleinitz

Designed for you, if you are...

An engineer, project manager, chemist or field operational staff currently or potentially involved in EOR
A professional seeking an overview of sustainable application of polymers in EOR

How we build your confidence

The course focuses on cases studies of different polymer projects using water-soluble products. A workflow regarding the polymer screening procedure is part of the discussed lab phase and engineering flowcharts bridge the gap to technical application.

The benefits from attending

By the end of the course you will feel confident in your understanding of:

The status of EOR application worldwide
The appraisal of different polymer field projects
Types of water-soluble polymers for EOR
Lab screening methods for water soluble polymers
Polymer retention: Lab vs. field
Selecting the mixing water (sea water, bank filtrate, source & produced water)
Powder product vs. emulsion / broth
Biocides and their screening for EOR projects
Technical approach of onsite polymer handling, mixing and injection
Importance of water quality for polymer injection
Monitoring systems during the flood
The effects of polymer breakthrough on the fluid treatment system

Topics

EOR Status
Appraisal of polymer field projects
Introduction to petrophysics
A current international project status
Living conditions of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB)
Rules of biocides in polymer projects
Impact of microorganism on polymer degradation
Well interference tests in the selected polymer area & rules of tracer application

Polymer stability and retention vs. adsorption
Selection of make-up water for polymer injection
Impact of oxygen on polymer fluid stability
Screening and application of oxygen scavenger
Polymer dissolution procedure and rheological analyses of the prepared fluid
Screening criteria of polymer solutions including guidelines for quality testing
Polymer solution control by standard sand pack tests
How to calculate the shear rate and apparent viscosity in porous media
Field application of PHPAA and xanthan projects
Polymer powder vs. broth or emulsion in project application technique
Injection well surveillance and injection fluid specifications
Start-up activities for polymer injection projects

Discussion of flow charts of different polymer field installations
Polymer pumping and metering systems
Application of valve-less pumps
Focus on the importance of polymer mixing
Types and selection of effective static fluid mixer
Chemical dosage systems and pH reduction for injection water
Polymer solution detanglement by different shearing methods
Polymer sampling procedures for onsite handling

Definition of water quality ratio (WQR) for injection
Importance of the injection well completion of polymer application
Stimulation procedure for polymer injection wells
How to calculate the shear rate and pressure distribution during injection
Importance of heating the polymer injection solution
Monitoring and surveillance program in field projects

Focus on production wells during polymer flooding
Onsite methods to control polymer breakthrough
Impact of produced polymers on the treatment process
Surface activity of broth application compared to powder
Application of a particle charge detector for controlling polymer breakthrough

Customer Feedback

"Dr. Wolfram is amazing. His rich experience of the industry has enriched the course a lot." - Engineer at Tatweer

"The instructor has a lot of experience and he shared his knowledge with the group." - Researcher at PDVSA

"Very good overview over different field trial examples and their hurdles" - Engineer at Wintershall