Optimizing Well Completion for Polymer Flooding in Conjunction with Waterflood Flow Control Valves
Camilo Andrés Guerrero-Martin,
Miguel Ángel Moreno López,
Laura Isabel Vargas Vargas,
Elizabete F. Lucas,
Wanessa K. Lima e Silva,
Vando J. Costa Gomes,
Pedro Paulo de Freitas,
Raúl Salinas-Silva,
Stefanny Camacho-Galindo,
Laura Estefanía Guerrero-Martin,
Rubén H. Castro
Affiliations
Camilo Andrés Guerrero-Martin
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Miguel Ángel Moreno López
Department of Energy, Universidad de América, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Laura Isabel Vargas Vargas
Department of Energy, Universidad de América, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Elizabete F. Lucas
Laboratório de Macromoléculas e Coloides na Indústria do Petróleo, Instituto de Macromoléculas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, RJ, Brazil
Wanessa K. Lima e Silva
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Vando J. Costa Gomes
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Pedro Paulo de Freitas
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Raúl Salinas-Silva
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Stefanny Camacho-Galindo
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Laura Estefanía Guerrero-Martin
Grupo de Pesquisa em Energia e Mar, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Salinópolis 68721-000, PA, Brazil
Rubén H. Castro
Grupo de Investigación en Fenómenos de Superficie—Michael Polanyi, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia—Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, Colombia
This work presents the proposal design for the completion of a polymer flooding injector well with waterflood flow regulator valves (FRV) in a Colombian field, based on experimental evaluations at the laboratory, intending to reduce the mechanical degradation suffered by the polymer solution at the time of injection, which allows to maintain the design parameters of the improved recovery project and reach the expected recovery factor. An analysis of the parameters and variables that influence the mechanical degradation of the polymer solution during the injection process (polymer solution concentration and the diameters of the FRV) was carried out using one laboratory methodology based on the recommended practices for the evaluation of polymers used in enhanced oil recovery operations API RP63. This work focuses on the following highlights: Evaluation of a waterflood flow regulator valve through experimental tests for polymer flooding and the designing of an initial well completion strategy to minimize mechanical degradation. The proposed valve and diameter resulted in a reduction of only 15 percentage points in the mechanical degradation of the polymeric solution when compared to a commercial water valve.
