The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres
Polymer microsphere profile control is a promising approach for the profile control of heterogeneous reservoirs. Matching between polymer microspheres and the reservoir pore throat is crucial for profile control. In this study, the range of the optimal matching factor Ra between polymer microspheres...
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doaj-e73f52c3a56446c4be737094f9acb2c02020-11-25T03:24:14ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-04-011288588510.3390/polym12040885The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer MicrospheresJianbing Li0Liwei Niu1Wenxiang Wu2Meifeng Sun3Laboratory of Enhanced Oil Recovery of Education Ministry, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, ChinaLaboratory of Enhanced Oil Recovery of Education Ministry, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, ChinaLaboratory of Enhanced Oil Recovery of Education Ministry, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, ChinaNo. 8 Production Plant, Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, Daqing 163514, ChinaPolymer microsphere profile control is a promising approach for the profile control of heterogeneous reservoirs. Matching between polymer microspheres and the reservoir pore throat is crucial for profile control. In this study, the range of the optimal matching factor Ra between polymer microspheres and core porosity was divided through core permeability limit experiments, and the dynamic migration laws and shut-off patterns of microspheres were studied using 9-m-long cores and microscopic models. The oil displacement effect and mechanism of microspheres were analyzed using three cores in parallel. The “injectability limit” and “in-depth migration limit” curves were divided by Ra into three zones: blockage (R<sub>a</sub> < 1.09 ± 0.10), near-well profile control (1.09 ± 0.10 < R<sub>a</sub> < 5.70 ± 0.64), and in-depth fluid diversion (R<sub>a</sub> > 5.70 ± 0.64). During migration in porous media, the microspheres gradually enlarged in size and thus successively shut off in four forms: multi-microsphere bridging shut-off, few-microsphere bridging shut-off, single-microsphere shut-off, and elastic shut-off. Microspheres with a rational combination of sizes versus those with a single particle size further enhanced reservoir oil recovery under certain reservoir conditions. Through “temporary shut-off–breakthrough–temporary shut-off,” the polymer microspheres were able to change the fluid flow rate and streamlines, mobilize residual oils, and enhance the oil recovery rates.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/885polymer microspheresadaptabilitymatching factormigration characteristicsin-depth profile control and oil displacement |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jianbing Li Liwei Niu Wenxiang Wu Meifeng Sun |
spellingShingle |
Jianbing Li Liwei Niu Wenxiang Wu Meifeng Sun The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres Polymers polymer microspheres adaptability matching factor migration characteristics in-depth profile control and oil displacement |
author_facet |
Jianbing Li Liwei Niu Wenxiang Wu Meifeng Sun |
author_sort |
Jianbing Li |
title |
The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres |
title_short |
The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres |
title_full |
The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres |
title_fullStr |
The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres |
title_sort |
reservoir adaptability and oil displacement mechanism of polymer microspheres |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Polymers |
issn |
2073-4360 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
Polymer microsphere profile control is a promising approach for the profile control of heterogeneous reservoirs. Matching between polymer microspheres and the reservoir pore throat is crucial for profile control. In this study, the range of the optimal matching factor Ra between polymer microspheres and core porosity was divided through core permeability limit experiments, and the dynamic migration laws and shut-off patterns of microspheres were studied using 9-m-long cores and microscopic models. The oil displacement effect and mechanism of microspheres were analyzed using three cores in parallel. The “injectability limit” and “in-depth migration limit” curves were divided by Ra into three zones: blockage (R<sub>a</sub> < 1.09 ± 0.10), near-well profile control (1.09 ± 0.10 < R<sub>a</sub> < 5.70 ± 0.64), and in-depth fluid diversion (R<sub>a</sub> > 5.70 ± 0.64). During migration in porous media, the microspheres gradually enlarged in size and thus successively shut off in four forms: multi-microsphere bridging shut-off, few-microsphere bridging shut-off, single-microsphere shut-off, and elastic shut-off. Microspheres with a rational combination of sizes versus those with a single particle size further enhanced reservoir oil recovery under certain reservoir conditions. Through “temporary shut-off–breakthrough–temporary shut-off,” the polymer microspheres were able to change the fluid flow rate and streamlines, mobilize residual oils, and enhance the oil recovery rates. |
topic |
polymer microspheres adaptability matching factor migration characteristics in-depth profile control and oil displacement |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/885 |
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