July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2021

Prof. Dr. Leonhard Ganzer

Polymer flooding is a well-established technology in the field of enhanced oil recovery. It is widely accepted in the industry that viscous polymer solutions lead to a more stable displacement of the oil phase and thus improve the volumetric sweep of the reservoir. However, laboratory studies and field observations indicate that the shear-thickening (viscoelastic) properties of synthetic polymer solutions also improve oil displacement at the microscopic scale.

This research project aims to investigate the efficiency of viscoelastic effects of polymer solutions in enhancing oil recovery. The evaluation is driven by a detailed investigation of the polymer viscoelastic phenomenon. To define mechanistic and quantitative explanations for the viscoelasticity effects, the project focuses on three complementary aspects: 

1. Laboratory investigation of polymer viscoelasticity in porous media
2. Interpretation of experimental results and derivation of mathematical descriptions
3. Validation of laboratory performance and oil recovery predictions

First, flow behavior is examined at the microscale using microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip systems. This approach has recently gained significant attention, although it has been used for several years in many industrial applications. Second, flooding experiments conducted in core plugs form part of the macroscale evaluation. This is the most common and industrially accepted approach for determining flow performance. Finally, the variety of complex fluid phenomena requires sophisticated mathematical models to describe and predict their behavior.

Applying experimental evaluations and numerical modeling in tandem will enable the differentiation of inherent polymer properties from critical behaviors related to their interaction with the complex pore structure of the reservoir, providing insights that can be used to enhance performance and project design. This, in turn, could have a significant impact on the oil industry by providing clear evidence as to whether or not polymer viscoelasticity will enhance oil recovery. Consequently, substantial investment could be saved.