Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Polymer Flooding Processes Using Micromodels

Polymer flooding is a process for the mobility-controlled deoiling of deposits. Due to the deoiling mechanism, the low plant engineering effort and the relatively low costs, it is one of the low-risk and often also economically attractive Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods. Understanding the non-linear physical and chemical processes that dominate polymer flooding, plays a crucial role in the efficient design of polymer flooding projects. The aim of the project is the fundamental analysis of these processes using micro-models (silicon wafers, sections or glass filters).

When considering the polymer flooding process, it is important to understand the properties of the oil, the polymer solution, but also the interaction between the fluids and the interactions between fluids and the rock. The approach of using micro models to study the polymer flooding process offers the possibility to visualise and study in more detail various effects that play a role in Polymer EOR.

Compared to flood tests on cores, micro models allow a more detailed visual approach to the flooding process. Thus, the local distribution of static and dynamic flow parameters can be read off the model, which should enable a fundamental investigation of the flooding process.

The final report has been completed. The DGMK research report has been published. You can order it from us on the DGMK website under Publications.

Publications in books and journals (including project phases 746-1 and 746-2)

Födisch H. 2019 Investigation of Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Core Flooding Processes with Special Focus on Rock-Fluid Interactions. Papierflieger Verlag, Clausthal-Zellerfeld. ISBN: 978-3-86948-697-0.

Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017. How Microfluidic Solutions using a rock-on-a-chip approach look set to revolutionise IOR/EOR process visualisation. Oilfield Technology Junal 7: pp. 15-18.

Duffy J, Hincapie R. 2016. Using Rheology to Optimize the Performance of EOR Fluids. Oil and Gas Innovation Magazine 10: 42-43.

Rock A, Hincapie R, Wegner J, Födisch H, Ganzer L. 2016. Pore-scale Visualization of Polymer Viscoelasticity Using Particle Tracing in Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels. EAGE first break 34: https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201600917.

Federal H, Hincapie R, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2015. Visualization of connate water replacement during flooding experiments using glass-silicon-glass micromodels. EAGE First Break 33: https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201412500.

Hincapie R. 2016. Pore-Scale Investigation of the Viscoelastic Phenomenon during Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Polymer Flooding through Porous Media. Papierflieger Verlag, Clausthal-Zellerfeld. ISBN: 978-3-86948-531-7.

Wegner J. 2015. Investigation of Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in Microfluidic Devices that resemble Porous Media - An Experimental and Numerical Approach. Shaker Publishing House, Aachen. ISBN: 978-3-8440-3520-9.

Ganzer L, Wegner J, Buchebner M, 2014. Benefits and Opportunities of a "Rock-on-a-Chip" Approach to Access New Oil OIL GAS EUROPEAN MAGAZINE 39: pp. 43-47.

Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2013. Numerical Analysis of Polymer Micro-Model Flooding Experiments. In Proceeding of 3rd Sino-German Conference "Underground Storage of CO2 and Energy", Goslar, 21-23 May 2013, (ed. Hou MZ, Xie H, Were P), pp. 131-142. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.

Conference Papers (including project phases 746-1 and 746-2)

Säfken S, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2019. Wettability Alteration of Microfluidic Rock-on-a-Chip Devices to Replicate Reservoir Conditions. In DGMK conference report 2019-1, pp. 461-468, German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Hincapie RE, Rock A, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017 Oil Mobilization by Viscoelastic Flow Instabilities Effects during Polymer EOR: A Pore-scale Visualization Approach. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/185489-MS. 

Rock A, Hincapie RE, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017. Rock-on-a-Chip Devices for High p, T Conditions and Wettability Control for the Screening of EOR Chemicals. 79th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.2118/185820-MS.

Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017. Advanced Flow Behavior Characterization of Enhanced Oil Recovery Polymers. 79th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.2118/185814-MS.

Be M, Hincapie RE, Rock A, Gaol CL, Tahir M, Ganzer L. 2017, Comprehensive Evaluation of the EOR Polymer Viscoelastic Phenomenon at Low Reynolds Number 79th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.2118/185827-MS. 

Tahir M, Hincapie RE, Be M, Ganzer L. 2017 Experimental Evaluation of Polymer Viscoelasticity during Flow in Porous Media: Elongational and Shear Analysis. 79th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.2118/185823-MS.

Rock A, Hincapie RE, Wegner J, Federal H, Ganzer L. 2017, Pore-scale Visualization of Oil Recovery by Viscoelastic Flow Instabilities during Polymer EOR. 19th European Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201700273.

Hauhs F, Federal H, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2017. Novel Application of Foam and Air Flooding in Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels. In DGMK conference report 2017-1, pp. 249-259, German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Rock A, Hincapie RE, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017 Advanced Flow Analysis of Viscoelastic EOR Polymers in Porous-media-resembling Micromodels. In DGMK conference report 2017-1, pp. 485-492, German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg. 

Gaol CL, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2017. A New Approach of Micromodels Construction Based on X-ray Micro-computed Tomography (µCT) from Core Plug. In DGMK-Tagungsbericht 2017-1, pp. 239-247. German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Elhajjaji RR, Hincapie RE, Tahir M, Rock A, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2016, Systematic Study of Viscoelastic Properties during Polymer-Surfactant Flooding in Porous Media. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/181916-RU.

Rock A, Hincapie R, Wegner J, Födisch H, Ganzer L. 2016. Pore-scale Visualization of Polymer Viscoelasticity Using Particle Tracing in Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels. 78th EAGE Conference and Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201600917.

Elhajjaji RR, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2016 Evaluation of Viscoelastic Behavior during Surfactant-polymer Flooding in Porous Media Using Microfluidics. 78th EAGE Conference and Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201600918.

Federal H, Wegner J, Hincapie RE, Ganzer L. 2015. Impact of Connate Water Replacement on Chemical EOR Processes. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/177196-MS.

Hincapie RE, Duffy J, O'Grady C, Ganzer L. 2015 An Approach to Determine Polymer Viscoelasticity under Flow through Porous Media by Combining Complementary Rheological Techniques. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/174689-MS.

Wegner J, Hincapie RE, Foedisch H, Ganzer L. 2015 Novel Visualisation of Chemical EOR Flooding Using a Lab-on-a-Chip Setup Supported by an Extensive Rheological Characterisation. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/174648-MS.

Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2015 Assessment of Polymer Injectivity with Regards to Viscoelasticity: Lab Evaluations towards Better Field Operations. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/174346-MS.

Födischl H, Hincapie R, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2015 Visualization of Connate Water Replacement during Flooding Experiments Using Glass-Silicon-Glass Micromodels. 77th EAGE Conference and Exhibition in Madrid. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201412500.

Muhammad T, Hincapie R. 2015 Coexistence of Shear and Elongational Components of Flow Paths through Porous Media during Polymer-Flooding Applications. 77th EAGE Conference and Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201412503.

Hincapie RE, Duffy J, O'Grady C, Ganzer L. 2015 Using DLS Microrheology, Rotational Rheometry and Microfluidics to better understand the Behaviour of Polymeric Materials for Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications. 10th Annual European Rheology Conference. 

Muhammad T, Hincapie R. 2015. An Experimental Approach to Analyze Polymer Mechanical Properties. International Student Petroleum Congress & Career Expo.

Romero JA, Hincapie R. 2015 Sand Pack Processing for Polymer Flooding Injectivity Purposes: Workflow and Experimental Set-Up. International Student Petroleum Congress & Career Expo. 

Herbas J, Wegner J, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2015 Comprehensive Micromodel Study to Evaluate Polymer EOR in Unconsolidated Sand Reservoirs. 19th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference. https://doi.org/10.2118/172669-MS.

Ganzer L., Wegner J, Buchebner M. 2014. Benefits and Opportunities of a "Rock-on-a-Chip" Approach to Access New Oil. In DGMK conference report 2014-1, pp. 385-394, German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Qi M, Wegner J, Falco L, Ganzer L. 2013 Pore-Scale Simulation of Viscoelastic Polymer Flow using a Stabilized Finite Element Method. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/165987-MS.

Qi M, Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2013 Numerical Study of Viscoelastic Polymer Flow in Simplified Pore Structures using a Stabilized Finite Element Model. In DGMK conference report 2013-1, pp. 453-462 German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg. 

Zheng S, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2013 Laboratory and Simulation Approach to the Polymer EOR Evaluation in German Reservoir Characteristics. DGMK Conference Report 2013-1, pp. 431-440 German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Kouchaki S, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2013 Rheological Evaluation of Polymers for EOR: Proper Procedures for a Laboratory Approach. DGMK Conference Report 2013-1, pp. 367-378 German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Födisch H, Wegner J, Hincapie-Reina R, Ganzer L. 2013. Characterization of Glass Filter Micromodels Used For Polymer EOR Flooding Experiments. In DGMK conference report 2013-1, pp. 325-334. German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Hincapie R, Wegner J, Buchebner M, Zheng S, Ganzer L. 2012 Laboratory Investigation of Parameters Affecting Viscosity of Enhanced Oil Recovery Polymers. In DGMK Conference Report 2012-2, pp. 495-500, German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg. 

Wegner J, Ganzer L. 2012. Numerical Simulation of Oil Recovery by Polymer Injection Using COMSOL. COMSOL Conference 2012.

Hincapie R, Wegner J, Buchebner M, Ganzer L. 2012 Experimental Set-Up and Workflow for Polymer Flooding Processes Using Micromodels. In DGMK Conference Report 2012-2, pp. 501-504 German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Wegner J, Buchebner M, Hincapie R, Ganzer L. 2012.development of a Numerical Polymer EOR Toolbox to Facilitate the Design and Interpretation of Micromodel Flooding Experiments. In DGMK conference report 2012-2, pp. 505-514 German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology, Hamburg.

Technical Committee Reservoir Engineering Geo-Energy Systems and Subsurface Technologies