Study of back produced HPAM polymer effects on dehydration and clarification cEOR at Ecopetrol S.A.

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery is a process that is used to maximize the volume of hydrocarbons recovered in oil fields. Among the methods of enhanced chemical recovery, the injection of polymers is found seeking to increase the viscosity of the displacing fluid and thus the volumetric sweep efficiency in the reservoir. Regardless of the EOR process used, effective management of the produced fluids is critical to the success of the project. One of the main focus of attention is the uncertainty of the characteristics of the produced fluids, as the polymer passes through the reservoir, in particular, changes in physical and chemical properties due to the adsorption of the compounds in the reservoir and the mechanical and thermal degradation.

In the case of ECOPETROL S.A fields, where the possible expansion of polymer injection projects is currently being considered, a detailed study of the incidence of polymeric residues in producing wells and their downstream effect was required. The research group of the Center for Innovation and Technology - ICP made evident an increase in the efficiency of the dehydration process in the presence of polymer residues, while in the water treatment stage a negative impact on the quality of the separated water was found with the increase of the remaining polymer content, resulting in physicochemical parameters out of the specifications for injection or pouring water.