Paper: When Should Polymer Treatment Be Started On Waterfloods

Fifty-six waterflood projects are grouped according to the producing water-oil ratios (WOR) in effect at the start of polymer treatment. A relationship between barrels of polymer oil, amount of polymer and water-oil ratio is developed over a range of WOR's from 1 to 50. Projects singled out for special study include conglomerate, sand, lime and fractured reservoirs. Hall Plots and input profile surveys are used to show injection side changes due to polymer treatment. Oil recovery/WOR curves and time/rate graphs illustrate production side responses. In all cases the polymer treatment was designed to improve volumetric sweep of the reservoir.