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Overview of Polymer Technology and Case Studies

Polymer Technology

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135 views67 pages

Overview of Polymer Technology and Case Studies

Polymer Technology

Uploaded by

Nam Phake
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Whats new in Polymer

Technology?
New tools to help get the most oil &
gas from your wells.

Polymer Services, LLC


Expertise: Design, field application, and

evaluation of polymer gel treatments since 1989.


Locally owned and operated. Management and
employees are all natives of the immediate area.
Services: Assistance with candidate selection
and treatment design, polymer products,
laboratory, field implementation equipment and
experienced crews and project supervision.
Headquarters and Field Offices: Plainville,
Kansas, USA.

General Overview
In recent years, POLYMER SERVICES has pumped a

total of 2,366,175 barrels of gel in 894 treatments. (as of


May 9, 2011) Approximately 1500 earlier treatments
were pumped (1989-2002) using older technologies.

It is estimated the treatments have yielded at least

4,000,650 barrels of additional oil to date.

Average incremental oil production per well is 4475

bbls, including unsuccessful treatments.

Indicates a gross value of at least $320,052,000.00

(based on $80/bbl oil)

What is Polymer Gel?


The original process developed(1960s), by Phillips

Petroleum Company as a way to reduce water


production in the Bemis-Shutts field of Kansas
(chrome/redox system)

The first polymer treatment ever pumped anywhere in the world,


was by Phillips Petroleum Company in the Bemis-Shutts Field in
Ellis County, Kansas in the late 1960s, under a great deal of
secrecy.

Todays gels are created when polymer is mixed in

water and cross linked with a trivalent chromium ion.


The technology has evolved from early biopolymers to modern
synthetic gels which are now used worldwide.

Polymer and crosslinker are mixed on the surface as

opposed to previous systems that (hopefully) mixed


in the reservoir. This was known as in-situ gellation.

Gel Strength is a function of polymer concentration.


Gels having viscosity slightly greater than fresh

water to that of rubber can be created in virtually any


water, at temperatures up to 270 F, in high TDS, H2S
and CO environments.

Continued:

Used to shut off unwanted water in producing oil

and gas wells, and to improve conformance at


water/CO injection wells.
Considered to be permanent after placement.
Special equipment is normally required to

properly blend and pump polymer gels.

Water Control In an Oil Well

Modern Chemistry Options


The current system used is a modified tri-

chrome system known as WATERBLOCK,


based on technology originally developed by
Phillips Petroleum Company, and is largely
responsible for the current high success rate in
the Arbuckle dolomite and other formations in
Kansas.
The key to current successes is the use of this
chromium III gel system as opposed to older
crosslinking technologies, which were less
robust or forgiving than the current system.

Near
Wellbore
Channeling

What are the benefits?


This chemistry was originally developed for stable

gels in deeper hotter wells than we normally find in


Kansas. It was also intended for hostile
environments, which include much higher salinities,
high H2S counts, high TDS brines, etc. Polymer
Services has modified this chemistry to also be very
effective in shallow low temperature wells.

A benefit to this chemistry is greater final gel

strength and fewer problems with polymer


production when the well is turned back on, and
greater long term gel stability in our relatively tame
wells.

What else do we do differently?


POLYMER SERVICES uses Liquid Polymer

which is custom blended as a pre-wetted


solution, instead of the dry powder used in other
common processes.

Pre-wetted solution means each individual

polymer grain is pre-hydrated in its own water


droplet, then suspended in a mineral oil solution.
This allows the polymer to hydrate much more
rapidly for a more complete and effective
crosslink, even at lower temperatures.

How does this help?


A pre-wetted polymer solution is much

easier to fully hydrate and completely


dissolve in all types, hardness and
temperatures of mix water.
Better dissolution means more complete
cross-linking, better final gel strength and
stability, and no produced polymer when
the well is re-started.

How have Polymer jobs today


improved compared to what has
been done in the past?
Todays gels are more stable in a wide range of

pH, high temperature, high HS, salinity and high


TDS environments.

Todays treatments are much larger in volume,

which allows for deeper penetration into the


reservoir, thus yielding significantly greater
amounts of incremental oil and longer effective
treatment life.

Well candidate selection criteria


Significant remaining mobile hydrocarbons in

place (cumulative production history is usually a


good indication).
Wells producing at or near their economic limit
due to costs associated with excessive water
production.
High water disposal and/or lifting costs.
Producers in natural waterdrive reservoirs.
Continued:

Well candidate selection criteria


Producers in water floods are treatable, but

recommend treating injectors.


Sometimes both the injection well and offending
producers are treated for optimum results.
Better chance of increasing oil production when
treating wells that have high producing fluid levels.
High permeability contrast between oil and water
saturated rock
Vuggy and/or naturally fractured reservoir.

Example of High Permeability


contrast
Arbuckle core

recovered in Rooks
County, Kansas
during a deepening
operation on a
workover rig.

Example of naturally fractured


Arbuckle dolomite
Another view of the

workover core,
showing a
combination of vugs
and fractures.

Key Factors
in designing gel treatments
The type of gel polymer/crosslinker and

concentration
Treatment volume
Treating procedure

Treatment Design Information


Wellbore schematic/data
Tubing size & depth, casing size & depth,
perforated/openhole depths, beam or submersible
pump, etc.
Porosity/electric logs
Core reports
Oil and Water production history
Fluid pump-in data from acid jobs or other work
Cumulative recovery map
Structure/isopach map
Oil price and water handling cost

Sizing the Treatment


DISTANCE

Radial or linear flow calculation


50-1000 Bbls. Per porosity-foot (depends on
well productivity)

VOLUME
Estimate daily capacity of well to produce fluid
at maximum draw-down, then use that volume
to determine minimum gel treatment volume
Need static and producing FL, and producing
rate(s)

Channeling
Behind the
Pipe

Before Pumping the Job


Ensure that the wellbore is clean, sand pump or

otherwise clean out well to original TD.

An AGGRESSIVE acid cleanup treatment has

proven to be very effective (1500-3000 gallons 15% NEFE,


pump away with water at high rate).

Establish a maximum treating pressure. Use

calculated frac gradient for field or run step-rate


test if necessary.

Continued:

Before Pumping the Job


Select an acceptable source of water that will be

used to blend and pump the treatment

(fresh. Kcl,

or clean produced water which has been tested for polymer


compatibility prior to treatment).

Select a polymer-compatible biocide for mix water

(mix at concentration recommended by the


supplier).
Set packer on tubing to isolate zone to be treated.

Pressure Monitoring During


Treatment

Mississippian Dolomite
Hodgeman County, Kansas
Pre-treatment oil rate was 5 BOPD, 870

BWPD.
Treatment was 3280 bbl WATER-BLOCK
247, pumped July, 2007.
Well averaged 50 BOPD, 275 BWPD
during first 30 days after treatment.
Cumulative production to date: 4042
incremental barrels,
Treatment cost was $40,496.00.

Mississippian Dolomite

Mississippi Dolomite
Hodgeman County, Kansas
Well was making 24 BOPD, 3400 BWPD

prior to treatment.
Treatment was 7520 bbl WATER-BLOCK
247, pumped October, 2007.
Peak production 1st month after treatment:
64 BOPD, 340 BWPD.
Current production 27 BOPD, 363 BWPD
Incremental oil to date: 4200bbls

Mississippi dolomite, Well #1,


Hodgeman County, Kansas

Miller #2
Hodgeman County, Kansas
Mississippian (Osage) well was making 6

BOPD, >600 BWPD prior to treatment.


3120 bbl WaterBlock-247 pumped

beginning 12/10-2007.
IP after treatment was 67 BOPD, 53

BWPD.

Miller #2 (continued)
Current production reported to be +/- 40

BOPD, 80 BWPD, not pumped off.


Estimated incremental oil to date is 3060

bbl.
Total workover payout occurred in

approximately 29 days.

Miller #2
Hodgeman County, Kansas

White Eagle Resources


On June 2, 2003, a 10 well project was

commenced In the Bemis-Shutts field for


White Eagle Resources.
Prior to treatment, the subject wells

produced a combined average of 47


BOPD and 12,000 BWPD.

Overview of the White Eagle


treatments
Treatment sizes ranged from 1100 barrels

to 5100 barrels of gel, depending on the


pressure response during treatment.

A total of 38,320 barrels of gel were

pumped on the 10 well project.

Pressure response ranged from vacuum to

a maximum of 750 psi surface pressure.

White Eagle Results


Individual well productions after treatment

ranged from 16 BOPD to 145 BOPD, on


an average of no more than 150 BPD total
fluid.
Peak production occurred in early
October, at just over 500 BOPD.
Current production is 180-200 BOPD.

Economic Value
White Eagle Resources estimated the Net

Present Reserve value of the wells has


increased from approximately $1,000,000
to approximately $4,000,000, as a result of
the treatments.
Incremental oil production is estimated to
be at least 81,000 barrels
All estimations are based on totals as of January

2006

White Eagle Summary

After the first 10 well study


White Eagle resources did an additional

14 Waterblock 247 treatments


Between October of 2003 and April of

2006 an additional 47,975bbls of


Waterblock 247 was pumped
Average size of treatment was 3960 bbls

Property sold in 2006


New operator has continued the successful

program, which is now ongoing on a continuous


basis.

Has pumped an additional 43 treatments since

2006, using our exclusive WATERBLOCK-247


polymer gel system.(54 treatments since project
inception

Average treatment has been in excess of 3650

barrels.

With a combined total of 246,835 bbls of

Waterblock 247 polymer pumped


Treatments resulted in additional 215,946 bbls

of oil (as of October 2009)


Increase in revenue (based on $50.00 bbl)

$10,797,300.00
Combined total production since project

inception is now 671,571 bbls of oil

White Eagle/TNT Engineering


TNT grouped leases for a cashflow

analysis based on actual production


differences and oil prices
Based on this, gross incremental reserves
are 279,800 barrels of oil or 6,500 BO per
job. The incremental cash generated by
the 43 polymer jobs is $12,768,200.

The following slides show the


Cash flow and Decline Curve
Analysis of the specific lease
while operated by both
White Eagle Resources
and
TNT Engineering, Inc.

Stice J A
2004

Treatments
Investment

2005

2008

2
118,100

1
66,560

11,176*

16,825

14,806

3,725

8,413

14,806

514,308

827,152

928,385

3
180,960

Incr. Gross BO

Incr. BO/Job

OperCashflow

Cost/NetBO

19.74

8.56

5.48

An Example of a Successful Gas


Well Treatment in the
Viola Limestone formation
Pratt County, Ks
Treatment was 150 bbl WATER-BLOCK 247
Production before treatment:
0 MCF, 300 BWPD
Initial production after treatment:
85 MCF, 0 BWPD
Current production:
247 MCF, 0 BWPD

Viola limestone
Comanche County, Ks
Treatment was 425 bbl WATER-BLOCK 247
Production before treatment:
50 mcf gas, 900+ BWPD
Initial production:
450 mcf gas, 250 BWPD
.

Snyderville sand
Barber County, Kansas
Production prior to treatment:600/BWPD, 100 mcf gas

(declining)

Treatment was 75bbl HDLV polymer with a maximum

shut in of 5 days

Initial Production after treatment:250/mcf and 200

BWPD.

The water depleted to 52 BWPD and the gas increased to


600mcf one month after treatment.
18 months after treatment production stabilized at 300mcf
with minimal water production.

Snyderville sand initial result

Snyderville Sand
Barber County, Kansas
Long term results

Polymer Water Shutoff Treatments


Problem:
Excessive water production (typical candidate

well producing 500-5000 BWPD)


.5 thru 2% Oil cut
High producing fluid levels
High electricity costs ranging from $600 to
$6000/month per well
Wells shut in due to lack of disposal capacity /
high lifting costs
Continued:

Polymer Water Shutoff Treatments


Solution:
Polymer water shut-off get treatments are

designed & pumped based on candidate


selection criteria, available well data and
experience with similar wells in the area
Treatment size have ranged from 75 BBL
to over 10,000 BBL Waterblock 247,
depending on individual well conditions
Continued:

Polymer Water Shutoff Treatments


Result:
Average water production per well is reduced
75-90%
Daily oil rate typically increases from 50% to
more than 60 times the original production
Incremental oil production ranges from 800 to
5400 barrel of oil per month have been
reported.
Electricity savings ranges from $500 to
$3500/month per well

Conclusions
Much has been learned about proper candidate

selection, preparation of the well for treatment,


and optimizing treatment designs, based on a
wide cross-section of treatments and responses
in the field.

This knowledge has led to much greater success

rates and incremental oil recoveries from


polymer gel applications in a wide variety of
reservoirs.

Conclusions (continued)
Improved polymer gel technology has vastly

improved results in all areas

The improved results can largely be attributed to

the following changes which have occurred in the


past few years:

A transition from older cross-linking technology to

the current chromium III gel technology, which


has become the standard
Continued:

Conclusions (continued)
Our WATERBLOCK cross-linking technology,

combined with precision blended, pre-wetted


liquid polymer instead of dry powder has shown
greater final gel strength and better long term
gel stability.
Our process has greatly reduced problems and
costs associated with polymer flowback.
Corrosion problems associated with other
earlier technologies have not been experienced
with this system.

Conclusions
The WATERBLOCK modified
tri-chrome technology
developed and pumped by
POLYMER SERVICES has
shown superior results with
fewer post-treatment problems
and better long-term gel stability
than earlier technologies.
:

Unit #1 in service from 1987 thru 1992

Pictured on location July 12, 1990,


Molz Oil Company, OHare #1
Barber County, Kansas

Gel Treatment in Progress


Polymer Unit #2
In Service from December 1992 Until Present

White Eagle Resources, Inc.


Carmichael #4
July, 2003

Polymer Unit #3
Unit placed in service December 2004

Polymer Unit #4
Placed in service February 15, 2008

Thank you for your time!


Call us anytime with questions or to

discuss possible applications.

800-625-3791

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