Crosslinked polymer gels in marine and alb-cenomanian waters for eor applications at the Uzen field

Background: Polymer flooding is one of the most commonly used methods in enhanced oil recovery, but polymer solutions are exposed to various physico-chemical factors that can significantly reduce their performance. This study examines the comparative strength of crosslinked polymer gels applied in EOR operations at the Uzen field.

Aim: Comparison of polymer gel strength using marine and Alb-Cenomanian waters to support more effective EOR operations.

Materials and methods: The experiments used Alb-Cenomanian and marine waters collected directly from the Uzen field. This helped closely replicate real reservoir conditions. Distilled water was also used for comparison. The chemical reagents matched those currently applied in EOR projects at the same field. All working solutions were prepared using high-precision laboratory equipment, following procedures standardized by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Results: Laboratory tests demonstrated that gel systems based on Alb-Cenomanian water exhibited greater strength and thermal stability compared to those prepared using marine water.

Conclusion: The study looked at how water salinity affects the viscosity of polymer solutions. It also included gel strength tests under different conditions and explored the factors influencing gel performance. The findings may help improve EOR methods and reduce the negative effects of polymer-based technologies.