Overview of Polymers for Improved Oil Recovery Treatments

Abstract

High water production in oil and gas wells reduces significantly the recovery factor. Mechanical as well as chemical methods are applied to shut off water productive zones. Crosslinked polymers showed high efficiency to seal off water zones in high permeability sandstone and fractured carbonate reservoirs. Moreover, emulsified polymeric formulations have been introduced for deep profile modification by changing the wettability of the rock and hence allowing selective plugging of water. This poster provides an overview of the polymeric formulations used for such application.