Knowledge Library
Interpretation of High Recovery Obtained in a New Polymer Flood in the Chateaurenard Field
A.G. Putz (Elf Aquitaine) | J.M. Lecourtier (Inst. Francais du Petrole) | L. Bruckert (Elf Aquitaine)
Abstract
The Courtenay polymer flooding test is being completed, using a larger than usual slug size ; a special attention was given to monitoring the concentration and quality of the effluents.
The test is implemented on a ten acres inverted five spot in the center of the field of Courtenay, which is part of the Chateaurenard field. A rather large slug of partially hydrolized polyacrylamide was injected, consisting of 42% pore volume of a 1000 ppm active polymer concentration solution followed by a 39% pore volume solution at a tapered concentration.
By matching the oil cuts and polymer concentrations in the effluents of the producing wells we estimate that the producing wells we estimate that the adsorption of the polymer on the rock was 35 mug/g of rock.
Concentrations and main characteristics of produced polymer at the wellhead were produced polymer at the wellhead were determined using a sampling and separation methodology which prevents chemical and mechanical degradation. An increase in polymer molecular weight versus time has polymer molecular weight versus time has been observed, this polymer is not harmed by flow in the reservoir.