Study of Crosslinked Polymers for Reducing CO2 and Water Permeability
Author Information
Author(s): Fakher Sherif, Khlaifat Abdelaziz, Mokhtar Karim, Abdelsamei Mariam
Primary Institution: American University in Cairo
Hypothesis
Can crosslinked polymers effectively reduce the permeability of CO2 and formation water in sandstone formations?
Conclusion
The study found that both crosslinked polymers reduced the permeability of formation water significantly more than that of CO2.
Supporting Evidence
- The polymers effectively reduced the permeability of formation water by up to 96%.
- CO2 permeability reduction was significantly lower, with a maximum of 50% reduction compared to water.
- The performance of the polymers varied with salinity, with higher salinity improving HPAM performance.
Takeaway
This research shows that special types of jelly-like materials can help keep oil and gas from leaking out of the ground by blocking water and gas flow.
Methodology
The study synthesized two crosslinked polymers and tested their performance in reducing permeability under various conditions including salinity and presence of crude oil.
Limitations
Further analysis of the polymers' properties before and after injection is needed, including swelling ratios and gel stability.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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