Simulation of deformable preformed particle gel propagation in porous media

Preformed particle gel (PPG) treatment is a proven cost-effective method for improving oil recovery. Although PPG system has a suspension-like property, it has different propagation rules from the rigid particle suspension in porous media because of its good deformation property. In this study, an advanced phenomenological model of PPG propagation in porous media is presented. The model includes both PPG plugging and restarting behaviors. Log-normal and normal distribution functions have been introduced in this model to calculate the PPG plugging probability. Power-law equation is used to calculate the PPG restarting rate. This method can represent the commensurate relation between PPG and throat size. Then, the equations are solved numerically, using an explicit finite-difference formulation in conjunction with a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The results match favorably with several laboratory experiments. Finally, the propagation rules and sensitivity analysis of PPG size, permeability and injection rate to propagation rules, and permeability reduction are performed. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4628–4641, 2017

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