Polymer Gel Flow Improvers for Water Injection Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water injection systems for hydrocarbon recovery face limitations due to turbulent flow, which increases energy requirements and reduces pumping capacity, especially in reservoirs where only a small percentage of oil can be recovered using pressure depletion methods.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a high viscosity polymer gel into the water injection system, pumped at elevated pressures, to reduce drag and improve flow characteristics by creating a more laminar flow regime within pipelines, thereby enhancing the efficiency of hydrocarbon recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is injected at high flow rates to maintain reservoir pressure and boost production, then hydrocarbon recovery efficiency improves, but turbulent flow increases energy consumption and exceeds pumping capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the injection fluid by adding polymer gel, which modifies the fluid's rheological properties and flow characteristics, enabling efficient transport at lower energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite fluid system combining water with polymer gel to create a flow improver that reduces turbulent flow effects and energy loss while maintaining injection effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If conventional surfactants or solvents are used to improve flow, then flow characteristics may be enhanced, but risks of reservoir souring or corrosion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses polymer gel as a temporary flow modifier that degrades harmlessly in the reservoir, avoiding long-term harmful effects associated with conventional surfactants and solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a chemically inert injection environment using polymer gel that does not react with reservoir components, eliminating corrosion and souring risks
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of polymer gels significantly reduces frictional resistance and energy requirements for pumping, allowing for increased hydrocarbon recovery rates and improved reservoir pressure maintenance without the risks associated with conventional surfactants or solvents, such as reservoir souring or corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
The use of polymer gels significantly reduces frictional resistance and energy requirements for pumping
Implementation Method 2
to reduce drag and improve flow characteristics by creating a more laminar flow regime within pipelines
Data Source
AI summary
A water injection system that includes a primary water injection line; an injection fluid supply tank; a high pressure injection pump in fluid communication with the injection fluid supply and primary water injection line for pumping injection fluid in injection fluid supply tank through the primary water injection line; a polymer gel supply tank; and a high pressure chemical injection pump in fluid communication with the polymer gel supply tank and the water injection line configured to pump polymer gel having a viscosity of at least about 50,000 cP (at 20° C. measured using a Bohlin Rheometer CSR 50, cone and plate measuring system CP 4°/40 mm, single shear rate 1/s) in the polymer gel supply tank into the water injection line for mixture with injection fluid is disclosed.