A comprehensive investigation of polymer microspheres (PMs) migration in porous media: EOR implication. (1st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Shuai; Pu, Wanfen; Wei, Bing; Xu, Xingguang
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 235(2019)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 258
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01
• Subjects: Polymer microspheres -- Elastic deformation -- Matching coefficients -- Migration mechanism -- Adsorption and desorption; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2018.07.125
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: Micron-sized PMs were synthesized and relevant physical properties were characterized. The SEM micrographs of the micro-pores plugged by PMs were presented. The matching relationship between PMs and pore throats was established via matching coefficients introduced. The effect of particle elasticity on migration of PMs was involved. The adsorption and desorption behaviors of PMs were assessed. Abstract: A type of polymer microspheres (PMs) with superior dispersity, swelling, elasticity, and saline and temperature resistance was prepared in this work through inverse emulsion polymerization. It was observed that these PMs experienced elastic deformation and obstructed micro-pores by means of complete, single and bridge plugging, and thus causing additional flow resistance. The migration modes of the PMs in porous media could be defined as smooth pass, elastic plugging-remigration incorporating low-efficiency and high-efficiency plugging, and complete plugging, on the basis of matching coefficients between the PMs and pore geometry. The plugging capability of the PMs was largely dependent on the matching coefficients. Interestingly, it was found that if appropriate matching coefficients was obtained, the PMs with higher elastic modulus showed an enhanced plugging capability even with smaller particle size. In addition, the results of adsorption and desorption behaviors of the PMs implied that the adsorbed PMs partially detached as a result of caused flow fluctuation and decline/disappearance of secondary adsorption potential well. It is believed that the proposed PMs could be a viable, robust and promising candidate for conformance control and oil recovery improvement.