Improvement of Oil Recovery in Hydrocarbon Fields by Developing Polymeric Gel-Forming Composition

Abstract

The paper presents the results of laboratory and field experiments on a developed polymer gel-forming composition “PSB” that enhances oil recovery. In this composition, two aqueous solutions are used: a polymeric gelling agent and an inorganic crosslinker. An alternating injection of solutions that are mixed directly in the reservoir allows a bulk gel to be formed that blocks water or gas breakthroughs. This leads to an increase in oil production, and a decrease in water cut, resulting in more efficient wells. On five wells in a hydrocarbon field that was located within the Permian-Carboniferous deposits, a series of field tests were conducted. It has been observed that wells treated with this developed polymer gel-forming composition “PSB” show a decrease in water cut, a decrease in liquid flow rates, and an increase in oil production. This technology led to an increase in oil flow rates of 5 tonnes per day per well (2 times) and a decrease in water cut of 10-40%, confirming its effectiveness. According to the values of the cumulative effect as of February 2016, this effect continues to increase oil production by 20-600 tons per well.