Introduction

The well No.13 of ABTAYMOR reservoir belonging to KARON production firm of National Iranian Oil Company has been closed due to high water/oil ratio in its production stream caused by water conning phenomenon

The produced water problem of Iran’s oil wells is due to the existence of fractures or a network of fractures near well-bore and the relation between well-bore and its “aquifer”. Produced water caused by conning can be temporarily reduced by a reduction in rate of production, however, the best remedy against produced water is injection of gel polymer. In this regard a project on application of gel polymers in well No 13 of ABTAYMOR, has been performed on request of R&D department of National Iranian Oil Company. It was conducted within 1382-1383 by Polymer Science & Technology Division in collaboration with Oil Exploration and Production Division of RIPI.  In this project an experimental investigation on application of gel polymers in a plug & core physical model was conducted and the following results were obtained:

1- An important & essential experience on application of gel polymers in confronting with water conning problems.

2- Rheological  properties of gel polymers in reservoir rocks.

3-A know-how of base polymer selection, with respect to reservoir specification, for preparation of gel systems.

4- An Increase of 1-5 percent in oil recovery from plug & core model following  the  injection of polymers.

Considering one percent increase in oil recovery means 5 billion barrels of additional oil, so the investment on gel polymer application in oil recovery, in view of technological and economical aspects, will be totally feasible.

In order to develop a know-how in injection and application of gel polymers in real reservoirs, a project entitled “know-how development on application of polymers and copolymers of acrylamides for recovery increase purposes in Oil & Gas reservoirs” has been defined and placed in the fourth Five-years Development Program (84-88) of NIOC and its accomplishment has been granted to Polymer Science & Technology Division of  RIPI.