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Hydrophobically associating polymers for enhanced oil recovery, part a: a review on the effects of some key reservoir conditions.

Afolabi, Richard O.; Oluyemi, Gbenga F.; Officer, Simon; Ugwu, Johnson O.

Authors

Richard O. Afolabi

Simon Officer

Johnson O. Ugwu



Abstract

Research advancement in polymer flooding for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) has been growing over the last decade. This growth can be tied to increased funding towards the development of superior polymers such as hydrophobically associating polymers when oil prices were high and increasing concern that “easy oil” has been exploited with the focus now on “difficult to extract” oil. The use of hydrophobically associating polymers for EOR was discussed along with its limitations. In this context, the improved rheological properties of associating polymers cannot only be linked to the molecular structures arising from different synthesis methods. Equally, external parameters similar to conditions of oil reservoirs affect the rheological properties of these polymers. As such, this review placed critical emphasis on the molecular architecture of the polymer and the synthesis route and this was linked to the observed rheological properties. In addition, the influence of some key oilfield parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, and reservoir heterogeneity on the rheological behavior of hydrophobically associating polymers were reviewed. In this respect, the various findings garnered in understanding the correlation between polymer rheological properties and oilfield parameters were critically reviewed. For associating polymers, an understanding of the molecular architecture (and hence the synthesis method) is crucial for its successful design. However, this must be theoretically linked to the preferred EOR application requirements (based on oilfield parameters).

Citation

AFOLABI, R.O., OLUYEMI, G.F., OFFICER, S. and UGWU, J.O. 2019. Hydrophobically associating polymers for enhanced oil recovery, part a: a review on the effects of some key reservoir conditions. Journal of petroleum science and engineering [online], 180, pages 681-698. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.06.016

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 5, 2019
Online Publication Date Jun 6, 2019
Publication Date Sep 30, 2019
Deposit Date Jun 6, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of petroleum science and engineering
Print ISSN 0920-4105
Electronic ISSN 1873-4715
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 180
Pages 681-698
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.06.016
Keywords Enhanced oil recovery; Polymer flooding; Associating polymers; Associative polymers; Hydrophobic interactions; Oilfield polymers
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/245788

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