TY - JOUR AU - Castro García, Rubén Hernán AU - Llanos Gallo, Sebastián AU - Rodriguez Ardila, Jenny Liseth AU - Quintero Pérez, Henderson Iván AU - Manrique Ventura, Eduardo José AU - Zapata Arango, Jose Francisco PY - 2020/12/17 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Heavy Oil and High-Temperature Polymer EOR Applications JF - CT&F - Ciencia, Tecnología y Futuro JA - CT&F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro VL - 10 IS - 2 SE - Scientific and Technological Research Articles DO - 10.29047/01225383.258 UR - https://ctyf.journal.ecopetrol.com.co/index.php/ctyf/article/view/258 SP - 73-83 AB - <p>Polymer flooding represents the most common chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) method used at commercial scale. In this process, the polymeric solutions (generally hydrolyzed polyacrylamide - HPAM) are injected to improve the oil/water mobility ratio (M). However, due to mechanical, chemical, bio, and thermal degradation, polymer viscosity losses can occur, causing a negative impact on oil sweep efficiency. In this case, biopolymers seem to be promising candidates in EOR applications with special structural characteristics, which result in excellent stability in harsh environments with high temperatures, ionic forces, and shear stresses. This paper presents the laboratory evaluation of Scleroglucan (SG) and a commercial sulfonated polyacrylamide (ATBS) in synthetic brine, representative of a Colombian heavy-oil field. The effects of ionic strength, pH, temperature, and shear degradation effects on polymer viscosity were also evaluated. For SG, the results reflect its tolerance to high salinities (0-5%wt), ionic strengths (Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and Mg<sup>2+</sup>), shear rates (0-300,000 s<sup>-1</sup>), temperatures (30, 50, 80 and 100 °C), and pH variations (3-10). The biopolymer was capable of preserving its viscous properties and stability after of the effect of these variables. Finally, the target viscosity (set as 17 cp) was achieved with a lower concentration (2.7 times) than the ATBS polymer tested.</p> ER -