Polyacrylamide for Enhanced Oil Recovery EOR and Oilfield Water Treatment

Product Introduction

Polyacrylamide is one of the most important water-soluble polymers used in oilfield operations. In the oil and gas industry, it can be used not only for drilling fluids, but also for enhanced oil recovery, polymer flooding, produced water treatment, and oilfield wastewater clarification.

For enhanced oil recovery, Polyacrylamide helps adjust the rheology of injection water, increase the viscosity of the driving fluid, improve sweep efficiency, and support more balanced oil and water movement in the reservoir.

For drilling fluid applications, Bluwat PHPA products are used as fluid loss reducers, viscosifiers, protective colloids, shale stabilizers, friction reducers, and lubricants. According to Bluwat’s PHPA TDS, BLUFLOC PHPA series can be used in fresh water, calcium brine, sodium brine, and KCL mud systems, and are applicable for shale stabilization, viscosity improvement, friction reduction, fluid loss control, and lubrication.

Why Polyacrylamide Is Used in Enhanced Oil Recovery

In many oilfields, primary and secondary recovery methods cannot extract all available oil. After natural reservoir pressure and water flooding become less effective, enhanced oil recovery methods may be used to improve oil production.

Polyacrylamide, especially HPAM or partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, can be used as a polymer flooding agent. It increases the viscosity of injected water and improves the mobility ratio between water and oil. This helps the injected water sweep a larger reservoir area instead of quickly channeling through high-permeability zones.

In oilfield tertiary recovery, Polyacrylamide can help:

According to Bluwat’s PHPA TDS, Polyacrylamide can be used as an oil-displacing agent in tertiary oil recovery. It can adjust the rheology of filled water, increase the viscosity of driving liquid, improve water drive wave and efficiency, and lower water phase permeability in the ground layer.

Key Functions in EOR and Oilfield Water Treatment

1. Polymer Flooding for EOR

Polyacrylamide increases the viscosity of injection water. This improves the mobility ratio and helps the injected fluid push oil more effectively through the reservoir.

2. Improved Sweep Efficiency

In water flooding, injected water may pass through high-permeability channels and leave oil behind in lower-permeability zones. PAM helps improve sweep efficiency by reducing the mobility difference between water and oil.

3. Oil Displacement Support

As an oil-displacing polymer, Polyacrylamide helps drive oil forward more evenly and supports improved oil recovery under suitable reservoir conditions.

4. Produced Water Clarification

Oilfield produced water may contain suspended solids, fine particles, clay, oil droplets, and other contaminants. Polyacrylamide can be used as a flocculant to aggregate fine suspended particles and improve water clarification.

5. Drilling Fluid Support

PHPA and Polyacrylamide can also be used in drilling fluids for viscosity improvement, shale stabilization, fluid loss control, lubrication, and friction reduction.

6. Oilfield Wastewater Treatment

Polyacrylamide can support sedimentation, clarification, and sludge dewatering in oilfield wastewater treatment systems, helping improve solid-liquid separation efficiency.

7. Profile Control and Water Plugging Support

In certain oilfield operations, Polyacrylamide can be used as a plugging agent or profile control aid to reduce water channeling and improve fluid distribution.

Typical Product Properties

Product Model Reference

Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery

In EOR polymer flooding, Polyacrylamide is dissolved in injection water to prepare a polymer solution. The polymer solution is then injected into the reservoir to improve the viscosity of the driving fluid.

This process helps reduce the difference in mobility between water and oil, allowing the injected water to push oil more effectively. It can also reduce water channeling and improve oil displacement efficiency in suitable reservoir conditions.

Typical EOR applications include:

Application in Oilfield Water Treatment

Polyacrylamide is also widely used for oilfield water treatment. It can act as a flocculant to aggregate fine suspended solids and improve solid-liquid separation.

Typical oilfield water treatment applications include:

Recommended Application Method

To obtain a homogeneous polymer solution, efficient dispersion is important.

Recommended solution concentration:
0.1–0.3% solid

Make-up water temperature:
10°C to 40°C

Effective pH range:
5–14

Dissolving time:
After dispersion into agitated water, stirring should continue for about 1 hour to ensure complete dissolution.

Recommended stirring speed:
200–500 rpm

Recommended dispersion method:
A polymer eductor or commercial dry powder feeder unit is recommended for powder products.

Recommended tank system:
A stock make-up tank and a solution holding tank are recommended for stable dosing.

Solution stability:
The recommended anionic solution concentration can remain stable for up to one week.

Important note:
Aluminum, zinc, copper, and iron should be avoided in the make-up system.

Main Benefits for Oilfield Applications

Improved Oil Recovery

Helps increase injection water viscosity and improve oil displacement efficiency in EOR polymer flooding.

Better Sweep Efficiency

Supports more uniform reservoir sweep and helps reduce water channeling in suitable formations.

Strong Viscosity Performance

Very high to ultra high molecular weight grades provide strong viscosity support for oilfield applications.

Produced Water Clarification

Helps flocculate suspended solids and fine particles in produced water and oilfield wastewater.

Drilling Fluid Compatibility

Can also be used in drilling mud systems for shale stabilization, fluid loss control, lubrication, and mud stability.

Suitable Product Forms

Bluwat can supply both PHPA powder and PHPA emulsion products for different handling and dosing requirements.

Stable Technical Support

Bluwat provides TDS, MSDS, COA, and product selection support for international oilfield projects.

Application Areas

Bluwat Polyacrylamide and PHPA can be used in:

Packaging

Powder products:
Packed in 25 kg kraft bags with inner PE bags, palletized.

Emulsion products:
Packed in 1000 kg IBC drum.

Storage

Store in original packaging in a cool and dry place. Keep away from heat, flame, and direct sunlight.

Under proper storage conditions, PHPA powder products have a shelf life of 2 years, and PHPA emulsion products have a shelf life of 6 months.

Why Choose Bluwat Chemicals

Bluwat Chemicals supplies Polyacrylamide and PHPA products for oilfield drilling, enhanced oil recovery, industrial water treatment, mining, paper making, sludge dewatering, and other applications.

For oilfield applications, Bluwat can recommend suitable polymer grades according to the customer’s purpose, such as EOR polymer flooding, drilling mud treatment, produced water clarification, shale stabilization, fluid loss control, and oilfield wastewater treatment.

Bluwat supports customers with stable factory supply, export experience, quality control, and complete technical documents including TDS, MSDS, and COA.

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