An Optimization Study of Polyacrylamide-Polyethylenimine-Based Polymer Gel for High Temperature Reservoir Conformance Control

Abstract

This paper presents optimization formulation of organically crosslinked polymer gel for high temperature reservoir conformance control using response surface methodology (RSM). It is always desirable to approach an optimal polymer gel formulation study with adequate performance information related to viscosity and gelation time to minimize excessive water production. In this paper, the effects of polymer and crosslinker concentrations and their influences on gelation time and viscosity were investigated. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the optimized organically crosslinked polymer gel formulation. Concentrations of two main raw materials, namely, polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyethylenimine (PEI), were varied in a suitable range. This was to obtain the formulation with the desirable two vital responses, which are viscosity and gelation time. It was found that the results fitted the quadratic equation. Statistically, the quadratic model is reliable and adequate perfectly the variability of the responses obtained from the experimental data. In addition, gelation time and gel viscosity may be controlled by adjusting both polymer and crosslinker concentrations. The optimum formulated organically crosslinked polymer gel with significant desirability factor conditions was achieved at 1.5% w/v of PAM and 0.3% v/v of PEI.