Applied Technologies and Prospects of Conformance Control Treatments in China

China is the largest user of chemical-based conformance control treatments and a series of technologies have been successfully developed and deployed in recent years. This paper first shows the milestones of development and application of conformance control technologies in China. Then integrated conformance control technologies are reviewed followed by the lessons we have learned, and then a few major specific conformance control technologies are addressed, including tracer injection and channels explanation, potentiometric testing to identify areal sweep efficiency, Pressure Index (PI) decisionmaking technology to select well candidate, complementary decision-making technology to select well candidate and design application parameters, and major chemicals for in-depth fluid diversion technologies. In addition, this paper also describes the principles and applications of some promising technologies of combined chemical-based conformance treatment with other EOR/IOR process, including the combination technology of surfactant and water shutoff, profile control and mini-scale surfactant flooding, acid treatment and profile control treatment. Finally, this paper summarizes the problems and challenges faced by mature water flooded oilfields in China. Based on recent well tests, tracer testing and interpretation, and previous water control treatment experience, it appears that channels or high permeability streaks are common in mature water flooded oilfields. Some research directions and promising technologies are suggested.

[1]  Baojun Bai,et al.  Preformed Particle Gel for Conformance Control: Transport Mechanism Through Porous Media , 2007 .

[2]  A. Kabir,et al.  Chemical Water & Gas Shutoff Technology - An Overview , 2001 .

[3]  Liu Shu.  Non-Selective Water Shutoff Agent GWPA-II for Gas Wells and Its Uses at Zhongyuan Oil Fields , 2001 .

[4]  Zhaoliang Wu,et al.  A Study of Thermal Stability of Linked Polymer Solution , 2009 .

[5]  David S. Schechter,et al.  State of the Industry in CO2 Floods , 1997 .

[6]  Cheng Tie-long.  Microscopic displacement mechanism of weak gel flowing in porous media , 2005 .

[7]  Jorge Luis Romero,et al.  A Review Of Over 100 Polymer Gel Injection Well Conformance Treatments In Argentina And Venezuela: Design, Field Implementation and Evaluation , 2006 .

[8]  R. D. Sydansk,et al.  More Than 12 Years of Experience with a Successful Conformance-Control Polymer Gel Technology , 2000 .

[9]  Lin Wang.  THE HIGH-TECH RESEARCH PROCESS OF INDUSTRIAL SOLID WASTE IN CHINA , 2004 .

[10]  Shang Zhao-hui,et al.  Development of A New Composite Chemical Oil Displacement Agent and Its Application in Block Zhuang 16 of Laohekou Oilfield , 2007 .

[11]  Hou Li,et al.  APPLICATION OF THE OIL-BEARING SLUDGE PROFILE CONTROL TECHNIQUE IN ZHUANGXI RESERVOIR , 2004 .

[12]  Li Zhen-zhong.  Application of Tracing Flow Measurement Technology in Polymer-injected Profile Test in Gudong Oilfield , 2008 .

[13]  B. Bai,et al.  Enhanced Oil Production Through a Combined Application of Gel Treatment and Surfactant Huff'n'Puff Technology , 2008 .

[14]  Gong Xianfeng.  THE COMPREHENSIVE PLUGGING AND ACIDIZING TECHNOLOGY USED FOR IMPROVING PROFILE , 2004 .

[15]  Harry Frampton,et al.  Incremental-Oil Success From Waterflood Sweep Improvement in Alaska , 2009 .

[16]  O. Rauseo,et al.  Lessons Learned from Four Selective Water Shutoff Treatments in Mature Reservoirs in Maracaibo Lake , 2005 .

[17]  Yang Zhen-yu,et al.  Current status and prospect of combination flooding at home and abroad , 2004 .

[18]  A. Zaitoun,et al.  Water Shutoff by Relative Permeability Modifiers: Lessons from Several Field Applications , 1999 .

[19]  R. Seright.  Washout of Cr(III)-Acetate-HPAM Gels from Fractures , 2003 .

[20]  Harry Frampton,et al.  Development Of A Novel Waterflood Conformance Control System , 2004 .

[21]  Nazan Necibe Senol Topguder,et al.  Improved Sweep in Bati Raman Heavy-Oil CO2 Flood: Bullhead Flowing Gel Treatments Plug Natural Fractures , 2007 .

[22]  C. Gazzera,et al.  Conformance Improvement with Low Concentration Polymer Gels in a Heterogeneous, Multilayer Reservoir , 2002 .

[23]  Zhang Ji-cheng.  Development prospect analysis of Lamadian oilfield at extra-high water cut stage , 2005 .

[24]  Tang Chang-jiu.  Profile modification and profile modification plus oil displacement technique in the high water cut oilfield in Zhongyuan Oilfield , 2005 .

[25]  Baojun Bai,et al.  Preformed Particle Gel for Conformance Control: Factors Affecting Its Properties and Applications , 2007 .

[26]  Ted J. Smith,et al.  State of the Industry , 2003 .

[27]  Sun Jian.  Experimental Study of Sludge Profile Control Technique Used in Jianghan Oilfield , 2003 .

[28]  D. Rousseau,et al.  Broadening the Application Range of Water Shutoff/Conformance-Control Microgels: An Investigation of Their Chemical Robustness , 2008 .

[29]  Xiang-E Liu.  Development and Application of the Water Control and Profile Modification Technology in China Oil Fields. , 1995 .

[30]  Mingzhen Wei,et al.  Selective Water Shutoff Technology Study and Application of W/O Emulsions , 2000 .

[31]  Bo Wang,et al.  Granular-Polymer-Gel Treatment Successful in the Daqing Oilfield , 2006 .

[32]  R. D. Sydansk,et al.  More Than 12 Years' Experience With a Successful Conformance-Control Polymer-Gel Technology , 2000 .

[33]  Charles Norman,et al.  Colloidal Dispersion Gels Improve Oil Recovery in a Heterogeneous Argentina Waterflood , 2008 .

[34]  Randall S. Seright,et al.  A Survey of Field Applications of Gel Treatments for Water Shutoff , 1994 .

[35]  You Jing.  Study and application of HB-II deep profile control agent for oil-bearing sludge , 2000 .

[36]  Li Xunling.  RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL WATER PLUGGING TECHNOLOGY IN THE WELL CB11C-2 IN CHENGDAO OILFIELD , 2007 .

[37]  Nicholas Kume.  An Engineering Approach To Predicting Post-Treatment Well Performance Using Selective Chemical Water Shut-Off Techniques: An RPM Example , 2003 .

[38]  Gang Chen,et al.  Successful Field Pilot of In-Depth Colloidal Dispersion Gel (CDG) Technology in Daqing Oilfield , 2006 .

[39]  Wang Lijiu.  The Hi-tech Research Process of Industrial Solid Waste in China , 2004 .

[40]  F. Legrand,et al.  In-Depth Drive Fluid Diversion Using an Evolution of Colloidal Dispersion Gels and New Bulk Gels: An Operational Case History of North Rainbow Ranch Unit , 1994 .

[41]  A. Stavland,et al.  How To Apply a Blocking Gel System for Bullhead Selective Water Shutoff: From Laboratory to Field , 2006 .

[42]  Dong Jia-dong.  Application of tracer flow survey technology in Jidong Oilfield , 2007 .

[43]  M. J. Faber,et al.  Water Shut-off Field experience with a Relative Permeability Modification System in the Marmul Field (Oman) , 1998 .

[44]  Jiecheng Cheng,et al.  Actual Field Data Show that Production Costs of Polymer Flooding can be Lower than Water Flooding , 2003 .

[45]  Baoyu Wang,et al.  Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Combination Flooding For Improving Recovery Of The Oil With High Acid Value , 1995 .

[46]  Baojun Bai,et al.  Optimization Design for Conformance Control Based on Profile Modification Treatments of Multiple Injectors in a Reservoir , 2000 .

[47]  Controlling Gelation Time and Microgel Size for Water Shutoff , 2000 .

[48]  R. D. Sydansk,et al.  Characterization of Partially Formed Polymer Gels for Application to Fractured Production Wells for Water-Shutoff Purposes , 2005 .