R.R. Jennings, Dowell Division of Dow Chemical
Modern mobility control polymers provide the petroleum engineer with a powerful tool for increasing oil production. Successful applications, however, are likely to result only from sound project engineering and careful attention to operating methods. This paper emphasizes a practical understanding of the properties of mobility control polymer solutions as they are likely to affect the success or failure of a project in a given fold. Many unsuitable applications can be identified through reference to some simple guidelines. Further selectivity results from an appreciation of the flow patterns of polymer solutions in specific reservoir situations. Good reservoir engineering maximizes the chances for incremental production; methods appropriate to the use of polymers in both waterfloods and surfactant polymer floods are surveyed. Even the best engineering efforts can be negated by careless or uninformed operations in the field. Particular attention is given to potential operational problems and the means available for dealing with them or avoiding them altogether.