Simultaneous sorption and mechanical entrapment during polymer flow through porous media

Physical adsorption and mechanical entrapment are two major causes of polymer retention in porous media. Physical adsorption is considered an equilibrium process and is often modeled by assuming a Langmuir isotherm. The outcome is a steady state pressure response because the permeability reduction is also accounted for by adsorption. However,...

Analysis of Alginate-like Exopolysaccharides for the Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Alginate-like exopolysaccharides (ALE) can be extracted from granular sludge, which is produced during aerobic granular sludge waste water treatment as a waste product. Processing the waste is a costly operation. It is believed that ALE consist mostly of alginates. The chemical and mechanical properties of alginates are potential for the...

Analysis of Polymer Injectivity in Porous Media: Experiments and Modelling

A considerable portion of world’s reserves are located in mature and viscous oil reservoirs having thickness less than 15 m. Polymer flooding is a mature technology and still is the most important EOR method based on full field case histories. Accurate assessment of injectibility of viscous polymer solutions into these reservoirs without induced...