Polymer flooding is a well established tertiary EOR technique to improve mobility control of a waterflood. Currently partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is the industry workhorse in polymer EOR in reservoirs with low salinity and temperature. Biopolymers including hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and Xanthan are soluble and excellent viscosifiers in high salinity conditions. This paper will provide a literature review on the use of biopolymers for EOR and focus specifically on the benefits of HEC as a mobility control polymer.

Keywords:
chemical flooding methods, Brine, enhanced recovery, Chemical Stability, viscosity, xanthan, salinity, polymer flood, copolymer, enhanced oil recovery
Subjects:
Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Chemical flooding methods
Copyright 2013, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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