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Propagation of Polymer Slugs Through Porous Media
J. Lecourtier (Inst. Francais du Petrole) | G. Chauveteau (Inst. Francais du Petrole)
Abstract
This paper describes an experimental and theoretical study of the mechanisms governing polymer slug propagation through porous media. polymer slug propagation through porous media. An analytical model taking into account the macromolecule exclusion from pore walls is proposed to predict rodlike polymer velocity in porous media and thus the spreading out of polydispersed polymer slugs. Under conditions where this wall polymer slugs. Under conditions where this wall exclusion is maximum, i.e. at low shear rates and polymer concentrations, the experiments show that xanthan propagation is effectively predicted by this model. At higher flow rates and polymer concentrations, the effects of hydrodynamic dispersion and viscous fingering are analyzed. A new fractionation method for determining molecular weight distribution of polymers used in EOR is proposed.