Polymer-Oxygen Scavenger For Oil Recovery in Sandstone
Keywords:
Enhanced Oil Recovery, Oxygen Scavenger, Polimer HPAM, Recovery Factor, Sodium BisulfiteAbstract
Polymer degradation caused by dissolved oxygen remains a major challenge in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) for sandstone reservoirs, especially under moderate salinity (18,000 ppm) and temperature (60°C) conditions, which accelerate viscosity loss. While HPAM polymers are highly effective, ensuring their long-term stability requires strategies that can preserve molecular integrity throughout the injection process. This study employs laboratory experiments to assess two HPAM variants (FP 3630 and FP 3230), both in conventional formulations and with an oxygen scavenger (NaHSO₃), using Bentheimer synthetic cores. Evaluations cover fluid-to-fluid (compatibility, rheology, filtration, thermal stability) and fluid-to-rock (injectivity, core flooding) performance under reservoir conditions. Results identify FP 3630 at 1400 ppm with 0.1% NaHSO₃ as the optimal formulation. The oxygen scavenger significantly improved thermal stability, reducing viscosity degradation from 32.83% to 4.24%. This formulation achieved an ideal Resistance Factor (11.44) and minimal formation damage (RRF 1.01), enhancing Recovery Factor from 67.38% to 87.29%. These findings confirm that the incorporation of oxygen scavengers effectively minimizes polymer degradation, establishing them as a crucial component for the successful implementation of EOR in moderate-salinity sandstone reservoirs.
References
Abidin, A. Z., Puspasari, T., & Nugroho, W. A. (2012). Polymers for Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology. Procedia Chemistry, 4, 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proche.2012.06.002
Al-Shakry, B., Skauge, A., & Al-Qarshubi, I. S. (2018). Enhanced Oil Recovery by Polymer Flooding: Optimizing Polymer Injectivity. SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.2118/192437-MS
Alli, Y. F. (2019). the Effect of Electrolytes on Polymer Viscosity for Effectiveness of Polymer Injection. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 42(2), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.29017/SCOG.41.1.17-27
Alvarado, V., & Manrique, E. (2010). Enhanced oil recovery: Field planning and development strategies. Gulf Professional Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-30583-8
Auni, N. R., Afdhol, M. K., Ridha, M., & Erfando, T. (2023). Potensi Polimer Sintetik Sebagai Bahan Chemical Enhaced Oil Recovery Untuk Meningkatkan Sweep Efficiency pada Skala Pengujian Laboratorium. Lembaran Publikasi Minyak Dan Gas Bumi, 57(1), 11–23.
Beteta, A., Sorbie, K. S., McIver, K., Johnson, G., Gasimov, R., & van Zeil, W. (2022). The Role of Immiscible Fingering on the Mechanism of Secondary and Tertiary Polymer Flooding of Viscous Oil. Transport in Porous Media, 143(2), 343–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-022-01774-8
Cao, J., Zhu, S., Shu, Z., & Shi, L. (2022). Effects of residual resistance factor in the mobility control of the polymer flooding. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 139(48). https://doi.org/10.1002/app.53217
Don W. Green, G. P. W. (1998). Green Don, Willhite Paul. - Enhanced Oil Recovery.pdf.
Du, J., Lv, C., Lan, X., Song, J., Liu, P., Chen, X., Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Guo, G. (2024). A review on viscosity retention of PAM solution for polymer flooding technology. Petroleum Science and Technology, 42(3), 372–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2022.2120011
Gbadamosi, A., Patil, S., Kamal, M. S., Adewunmi, A. A., Yusuff, A. S., Agi, A., & Oseh, J. (2022). Application of Polymers for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review. Polymers, 14(7), 1–39. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071433
Green G. P., D. W. . W. (1998). Enhanced oil recovery. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/9781555630775
Hassan, A. M., Al-Shalabi, E. W., & Ayoub, M. A. (2022). Updated Perceptions on Polymer-Based Enhanced Oil Recovery toward High-Temperature High-Salinity Tolerance for Successful Field Applications in Carbonate Reservoirs. Polymers, 14(10), 2001. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14102001
JOUENNE, S. (2020). Polymer flooding in high temperature, high salinity conditions: Selection of polymer type and polymer chemistry, thermal stability. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 195, 107545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107545
Larsen, J. O. (2014). Rheology of Synthetic Polymers in Porous Media. June, 95.
Levitt, D. B., & Pope, G. A. (2008). Selection and screening of polymers for enhanced-oil recovery. Proceedings - SPE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, 3(April), 1125–1142. https://doi.org/10.2118/113845-ms
Olajire, A. A. (2014). Review of ASP EOR (alkaline surfactant polymer enhanced oil recovery) technology in the petroleum industry: Prospects and challenges. Energy, 77, 963–982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.09.005
Putra, I. A., Taufantri, Y., Alli, Y. F., Damayandri, D., & Yohanes, B. D. (2025). Green Surfactant : Synthesis of Sulfonate Surfactants Using Strecker Modification Techniques and Surfactant Formulation for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery ( CEOR ) Applications. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 48(2), 207–216.
Qiao, W., Zhang, G., Jiang, P., & Pei, H. (2023). Investigation of Polymer Gel Reinforced by Oxygen Scavengers and Nano-SiO2 for Flue Gas Flooding Reservoir. Gels, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040268
Quadri, S. M. R., Shoaib, M., AlSumaiti, A. M., & Alhassan, S. M. (2015). Screening of Polymers for EOR in High Temperature, High Salinity and Carbonate Reservoir Conditions. In International Petroleum Technology Conference (p. D041S045R003). https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-18436-MS
Ramadhan, R., Novriansyah, A., Erfando, T., Tangparitkul, S., Daniati, A., Permadi, A. K., & Abdurrahman, M. (2023). Heterogeneity Effect on Polymer Injection: a Study of Sumatra Light Oil. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 46(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.29017/SCOG.46.1.1322
Rellegadla G.; Agrawal, A., S. . P. (2017). Polymers for enhanced oil recovery: Fundamentals and selection criteria. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 101(11), 4387–4402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8307-4
Sandengen, K., Meyssami, B., & Spildo, K. (2017). Effect of dissolved iron and oxygen on stability of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide polymers. SPE Journal, 22(06), 1735–1744. https://doi.org/10.2118/181511-PA
Saputra, D. D. S. M., Prasetiyo, B. D., Eni, H., & Taufantri, Y. (2022). Investigation of Polymer Flood Performance in Light Oil Reservoir : Laboratory Case Study. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 45(2), 81–85.
Serhan, M., Sprowls, M., Jackemeyer, D., Long, M., Perez, I. D., Maret, W., Tao, N., & Forzani, E. (2019). Total iron measurement in human serum with a smartphone. AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings, 2019-Novem. https://doi.org/10.1039/x0xx00000x
Seright, R. S. (2017). Polymer flooding: Status and new opportunities. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 159, 687–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.09.031
Shakeel M. S.; Al-Harthi, M. A., M. . K. (2022). Effect of salinity and hardness on the rheological properties of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solutions for enhanced oil recovery. Polymers, 14(3), 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030489
Sheng, J. J. (2019). Enhanced Oil Recovery. In Sustainability (Switzerland) (Vol. 11, Issue 1). http://scioteca.caf.com/bitstream/handle/123456789/1091/RED2017-Eng-8ene.pdf?sequence=12&isAllowed=y%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2008.06.005%0Ahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/305320484_SISTEM_PEMBETUNGAN_TERPUSAT_STRATEGI_MELESTARI
Slaughter, W. S. (2010). Stability of Polymers Used for Enhanced Oil Recovery APPROVED BY SUPERVISI G COMMITTEE :
Sorbie, K. S. (1991). Polymer-Improved Oil Recovery. Blackie and Son Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3044-8
Sun, X., & Bai, B. (2022). Chemical enhanced oil recovery. In Recovery Improvement (pp. 185–279). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823363-4.00003-0
Thomas N.; Favero, C., A. . G. (2012). Some key features to consider when studying acrylamide-based polymers for chemical enhanced oil recovery. Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies Nouvelles, 67(6), 887–902. https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2012033
Veerabhadrappa, S. K., & Nguyen, Q. P. (2011). Evaluation of Polymer Solutions for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 14(6), 703–712. https://doi.org/10.2118/129899-PA
Wei L.; Rodrigue, D., B. . R.-Z. (2014). Oil displacement mechanisms of viscoelastic polymers in enhanced oil recovery (EOR): A review. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technologies, 4(2), 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-013-0085-7
Wellington, S. L. (1983). Biopolymer solution viscosity stabilization—Polymer degradation and antioxidant use. Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal, 23(6), 901–912. https://doi.org/10.2118/9296-PA
Zaitoun, A., Fonseca, C., Berger, P., Bazin, B., & Monin, N. (2003). New Surfactant for Chemical Flood in High-Salinity Reservoir. SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 315–325. https://doi.org/10.2118/80237-ms
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors are free to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms, under the following terms Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
