WATER PRODUCTION CONTROL WITH RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MODIFIERS

WATER PRODUCTION CONTROL WITH RELATIVE

PERMEABILITY MODIFIERS
L.Chiappa, T.P. Lockhart, A.Mennella* EniTecnologie SpA,
and G. Burrafato, ENI/Agip E&P Division
Abstract. Excessive water production results in reduced well productivity, increased costs
associated with produced water treatment and handling, and premature well abandonment. This paper
discusses well treatments with relative permeability modifying (RPM) polymers-- polymers that are
capable of selectively reducing the permeability to water of the rocks onto which they adsorb. The
principal results of experimental and simulation studies, conducted with the goal of linking the basic
physical mechanisms of the process to the development of operational rules for treatment design, are
reported. The application of these understanding-based rules for candidate and chemical selection has
led to a successful RPM application in an Italian gas field.
for chemical and candidate well selection for
water production control treatments4. We also
report a successful application of these criteria
in an RPM polymer treatment of a gas well in
Southern Italy.

INTRODUCTION
Excessive water production from oil and
gas wells is a widespread problem that can
sometimes be reduced by re-completing the
well or by intervening with cement or polymer
gel treatments. These solutions, however,
require identification and isolation of the
watered-out layer and are not always feasible:
examples include microlayered formations and
gravel-pack completed wells.
The use of RPM agents is an attractive
option in these cases. The RPM chemical can
be injected (bullheaded) into all open intervals
to reduce the permeability to water1,2,3. One of
the most common RPM treatments employs
solutions of water-soluble, high molecular
weight polymers that adsorb onto the surface
of the porous rock, changing its flow
properties. The main advantages of this
method are:
Low cost (limited quantities of
chemical are used, and the treatment
does not require zone isolation)
Low risk (the polymer reduces water
permeability without plugging the
formation)
Low environmental impact
The execution of these treatments in the
field is relatively simple. Nevertheless, the
absence of reliable criteria for identifying
suitable candidate wells and the best treatment
chemical have resulted in only a modest rate of
success
and
have
complicated
the
interpretation of field results.
In the present work, we report guidelines
developed in laboratory and simulation studies

RESULTS
Selecting the chemical
To clarify the factors that govern the
effectiveness of polymer treatments we have
investigated the nature of the polymer-rock
interactions and the impact of rock lithology
and wettability5.
The polymer-rock interactions have been
investigated by means of adsorption isotherms
and kinetics for polymers of varying structure
(biopolymers, polyacrylamide, and other
synthetic co- and terpolymers), charge
(cationic, anionic and non-ionic), and
molecular weight (5*105 5*10 6 Dalton). The
tests were carried out on reservoir sands and
cores of varying lithology and wettability.
The following guidelines have been derived
from these studies6,7:
Adsorption is governed by the
electrostatic interactions between rock
and polymer (cationic polymers are
particularly indicated for applications
in siliceous and clay formations);
polymer adsorption tests provide a
useful method of initial screening
The optimal molecular weight has to
be defined considering principally the
injectivity of the polymer solution. In
general a compromise exists between
the following requirements:

RPM = Relative Permeability Modifying

* Present affiliation: IFCTR - CNR Milan

196

WATER PRODUCTION CONTROL WITH RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MODIFIERS

and FTHP = 34 kg/cm2. At this rate of water
production, the bottom hole pressure was not
sufficient to sustain gas production 9.
The following layers were identified by log
analysis:
2.3 m gas zone
(963.5-965.8 m/RT)
0.4 m of shale
(965.8-966.2 m/RT)
1.8 m of a watered-out gas zone
(966.2-968.0 m/RT).
Other data relevant to this well are:
SBHT = 48C (118F)
SBHP = 69.3 kg/cm2, 0.72 kg/cm2/10 m
(985 psi, 0.31 psi/ft)
STHP = 64.0 kg/cm2 (910 psi)
kgas = 130 mD
kbrine = 44 mD (assumed to be 30% of kgas )
Frac press.: 128 kg/cm2 , 1.32 kg/cm2/10
m (1820 psi, 0.57 psi/ft)

Increased
adsorption
and
magnitude of the RPM effect
(favored by higher molecular
weights).
Good injectivity and low risk of
plugging during injection (favored
by lower molecular weights)
Brine
composition
influences
adsorption (the presence of divalent
cations in the polymer solution can
substantially increase the adsorption of
negatively charged polyacrylamides)
The presence of crude oil can
substantially
reduce
polymer
adsorption onto rock.

Selecting the candidate

Selection of the right candidate well
requires knowledge of the water production
mechanism, an evaluation of how the
production will respond to the RPM effect and
an estimate of the polymer solution injectivity.

A chemical (high molecular weight,

cationic PAM) displaying strong adsorption
onto the reservoir sand was selected from tests
carried out on sand packs. A concentration of
1500 ppm (giving a solution viscosity of 2.1
cp) was chosen for the field application, in
order to avoid high injection pressures and
formation parting.
The polymer treatment (60 m3) was
bullheaded, without any evidence of plugging,
to a theoretical invasion depth of 3.4 m. The
polymer solution was over-displaced with
nitrogen gas (6654 Nm3 (235 kscf)) in order to
push any un-adsorbed polymer deeper into the
formation, and to re-establish gas connectivity
and prepare the well for clean up. The well
was shut in for 24 hours to assure complete
polymer adsorption.
After two weeks, the production stabilized
and the well produced at a constant gas flow
rate between 2025000 Sm3/d. The water
production was reduced to 4m3/d (see Fig.1).
From the economical point of view, the
treatment was paid-back in two months and the
well produced for a total of eight months until
the gas layer was fully depleted.

To enhance our understanding of the

characteristics
of
suitable
candidates,
simulation studies on several reservoirs and
numerous porous media flow experiments
(k from 30-4000mD) were conducted. The
following guidelines have been developed:
The best candidates for a successful
treatment are wells in multi-layered
matrix formations with one or more
layers that are still saturated with
hydrocarbons.
The best candidates for RPM polymer
treatments are formations with k < 500
mD8.

FIELD TEST
These guidelines have been applied
successfully in the treatment of a gas well in
Southern Italy that had been shut-down since
April 1989, after a period of only ten months
on production. The last production parameters
(1996) were Qg = 22000 Sm3/d, QW = 30 m3/d

197

30000
20000
10000

gas
water

40
30
20
10

Water flow rate (m3/d)

Gas flow rate (Sm3/d)

40000

RPM treatment

WATER PRODUCTION CONTROL WITH RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MODIFIERS

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Test 96 0
Time after the treatment (months)
Fig 1 Gas and water production before and after the polymer treatment
0

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2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

7.

8.
9.

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