Chemical Engineering and Catalysis

Biography

Biography: Kabiru Jega Hasan

Abstract

Hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer solution is injected into the reservoir to increase both microscopic and macroscopic sweep efficiency for favourable mobility ratio between oil and water. This experimental study investigates the potentials of hydrolysed polyacrylamide polymer solution to deplete residual oil saturation. The rheological properties of HPAM polymer solutions of 22-24 million Dalton molecular weight  in 400ppm, 800ppm and 1200ppm concentrations were determined at 70^oC (±2) with Model 110 pressurised viscometer with ORCADA data acquisition software.  The fluid flow properties and behavioural indices obtained indicated characteristics of a pseudoplastic fluid. Through coreflooding at pump pressures of 1500 to 2000psi, oil was recovered from 1 x 3-inch saturated Berea upper sandstone reservoir core samples with injection of high molecular weight hydrolysed polyacrylamide of 22-24 million Daltons. The mobility ratio at 40^oC for 400ppm, 800ppm and 1200ppm were determined as 0.874, 0.688 and 0.478 respectively. During coreflooding to displace 9.7cp oil, the incremental oil recovery from saturated core of Berea sandstone, after initial primary recovery was highest for 1200ppm followed by 800ppm then 400ppm and least was waterflooding. The residual oil saturations after 5PV injections were 18.99%, .35.56%, 41.85% and 63.34% for 1200ppm, 800ppm, 400ppm and waterflooding respectively. From the results obtained, the higher the concentration of high molecular weight polyacrylamide in injection solution the greater the residual oil desaturation.