Abstract
A new mathematical model was constructed to express flow behavior of polymer solution for two-phase flow of oil and the solution. By combining the fractional flow theory proposed by G. A. Pope with this model, a simple simulator was developed to predict performances of polymer flood. In this simulator, permeability reduction owing to adsorption of polymer molecules was modeled by reduction of hydraulic radius for flow of the solution. Two parameters (C*, mc) dependent on pore structure and fluid relaxation time were used to calculate the viscoelastic flow behavior of polymer solution.
Calculated performances were compared with experimental data of 1D polymer flood described in the previous paper (ref. 5). The simulator could reproduce the experimental data well when viscoelastic flow behavior was assumed. By model calculations, the viscoelastic effects of polymer solution on oil recovery were foand to (1) increase flow resistance in two-phase flow, (2) make breakthrough saturation of polymer solution higher by shifting fractional flow curve to higher saturation, and (3) make oil recovery faster, therefore.
