Optimization of Enhanced Oil Recovery in Marginal Fields Using Polymer Flooding with Nano-Fluidized Dispersions

Project Abstract

This study investigates the optimization of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in marginal fields through the integration of polymer flooding with nano-fluidized dispersions, aiming to maximize oil recovery, improve sweep efficiency, and reduce water-cut while maintaining economic viability and environmental compatibility. The research combines experimental laboratory evaluations, reservoir-scale simulations, and techno-economic analyses to quantify the incremental oil recovery, compatibility of nano-fluidized dispersions with common polymers (e.g., HPAM, Xanthan), and the impact on reservoir properties such as viscosity, destabilization risk, adsorption, and flow through heterogeneous media. A novel nano-fluidization approach is deployed to suspend superparamagnetic or silica-based nanoparticles within polymer solutions, enhancing viscoelastic properties and stability under reservoir temperatures and salinities. The study first characterizes the rheological behavior of polymer-nanoparticle suspensions across a range of salinities, pH levels, and shear rates to identify optimal formulations that resist adsorption and retain mobility control under reservoir conditions. Core flooding experiments in engineered core plugs simulate heterogeneous permeability distributions typical of marginal fields, evaluating displacement efficiency, relative permeability modification, and pass-through phenomena under various injection schemes, including sequential and cyclic polymer-nanoparticle injection. Interfacial tension measurements and wettability alteration assessments elucidate mechanisms by which nano-fluidized dispersions modify capillary forces, promoting favorable mobility ratios and displacing residual oil. Reservoir simulations embed experimentally derived parameters to predict field-scale performance under different development scenarios, including single-well and pilot-scale polymer-nanoparticle floods, with sensitivity analyses on nanoparticle concentration, polymer molecular weight, slug size, and injection timing. Economic viability is appraised through net present value (NPV), oil production forecast, polymer/nano resource costs, and sensitivity to crude price, operating expenses, and potential scaling or corrosion risks. Environmental and safety considerations are integrated by evaluating nanoparticle fate, habitat impacts, and potential formation damage, with mitigation strategies such as surface modification and controlled dosing. The research also investigates operational challenges in marginal fields, including high water-cut, limited reservoir pressure support, and strict field constraints, proposing robust field deployment guidelines and monitoring strategies. Expected outcomes include a quantified incremental recovery factor (IRF) improvement over conventional polymer flooding, enhanced sweep efficiency in heterogeneous reservoirs, and a demonstrated framework for tailoring nano-fluidized polymer formulations to specific field conditions. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on polymer-nanoparticle interactions in porous media, clarifies the role of nano-scale additives in modifying rheology and interfacial properties, and provides decision-support tools for optimizing EOR strategies in marginal fields, balancing technical performance with economic and environmental sustainability.

Project Overview

What This Project Is About

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A plain-language overview of how polymers and tiny fluid particles can help recover more oil from reservoirs that are not easy to extract from. The project looks at adding special long-chain molecules (polymers) to the water used to push oil out of rocks, and dispersing tiny particles in the mix to improve performance. It seeks to understand whether these nano-fluidized dispersions can make polymer flooding more effective in difficult-to-produce fields.

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The Problem It Addresses

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Marginal or mature oil fields often have low recovery with standard methods, leaving much oil trapped underground. Aggressive fluids can be expensive and may cause issues like poor flow or rock damage. This project investigates a gentler, potentially cheaper method to push more oil to the surface by combining polymers with tiny dispersed particles to improve sweep efficiency.

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Objectives of the Project

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1. Assess how polymer flooding works in simple lab models of rock and oil systems.
2. Explore the role of nano-fluidized dispersions in enhancing oil displacement.
3. Evaluate the economic and environmental implications of the method.
4. Identify practical limitations and safety considerations for field deployment.
5. Provide guidelines for future pilot testing in marginal fields.

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What You Will Do Step by Step

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Review basic concepts of oil recovery, polymers, and nanoparticles in simple terms.

Set up small lab experiments to simulate oil and water flow through rock-like materials.

Test different polymer concentrations and nano-dispersion formulations.

Measure how much oil is recovered and analyze the flow patterns.

Compare results to standard water flooding to see improvements.

Summarize findings and discuss practical considerations for real-world use.

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Expected Outcome

A clear understanding of whether polymer flooding with nano-fluidized dispersions can meaningfully increase oil recovery in marginal fields, with practical recommendations for next steps and potential impacts on production economics and field planning.