(586j) Design of Sustainable Polymer Flooding Strategy for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery

Polymer flooding is a well-established chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) technique, widely recognized for its ability to improve oil recovery by increasing sweep efficiency and delaying water breakthrough. This method involves injecting polymer solutions to enhance the viscosity of the displacing fluid, thereby reducing the mobility ratio and optimizing oil displacement. However, most polymer flooding projects to date have relied on synthetic polymers, which pose significant challenges, including environmental concerns, reservoir fluid compatibility issues, high operational costs, and long-term sustainability limitations. This study developed a sustainable polymer flooding strategy to enhance heavy oil recovery while addressing environmental and economic challenges. A three-dimensional (3D) reservoir model of a heavy oil field in West Kuwait was constructed using the ECLIPSE® reservoir simulation package, while the production system design was completed using PIPESIM™. Additionally, a comprehensive polymer mixing system and an eco-friendly bioreactor-based water treatment facility were designed. The bioreactor utilizes bacterial aggregation to enhance polymer performance without harmful chemicals, ensuring sustainability and environmental compliance. A comparative performance evaluation of synthetic and green polymers under various operating conditions was conducted to optimize oil recovery and project revenues. The findings indicate that polymer flooding significantly enhances oil recovery and effectively delays water breakthrough. Synthetic polymers at a concentration of 500 ppm yielded the highest internal rate of return (IRR) of 17,300% and a net present value (NPV) of $8.7 billion. However, green polymers demonstrated superior economic feasibility, achieving an NPV of $8.8 billion at a lower interest rate (8%), underscoring their potential for sustainable EOR applications. The integration of biopolymers further minimizes environmental impact, aligning with sustainable oil recovery practices. Overall, the study provides critical insights into the design and optimization of polymer flooding strategies for heavy oil reservoirs, offering a sustainable and economically viable alternative to conventional methods.

Keywords: chemical enhanced oil recovery, polymer flooding, biopolymers, sustainable EOR, heavy oil recovery, sweep efficiency.