Current development and application of chemical combination flooding technique

Abstract Great progress and success have been achieved in the fundamental study and field test of chemical combination flooding in recent years. In China, a low concentration ASP formula is employed to achieve ultra-low interfacial tension by the synergistic effect of alkali and surfactant. The viscosity of polymer solution prepared from produced water can meet the technological requirement when salt tolerance polymer is applied. ASP or SP flooding can increase both oil displacement efficiency and sweep volume. ASP pilot tests and industrial field tests in Daqing Oilfield have resulted in an oil recovery increase of 18.5%-26.5%. The chemical combination flooding has entered into the industrial promotion and application stage, with a series of supporting techniques formed in the field tests. The main challenges in this technique include short pump-checking period and difficulty in produced liquid handling and high cost. Micelle-polymer flooding as the major chemical combination flooding technique was applied abroad in the early stage of chemical flooding tests. However, the micelle-polymer flooding has not been applied widely due to its high cost. With the rise of oil price in recent years, low concentration chemical combination flooding has drawn more attention. Because of high temperature and high salinity in most reservoirs abroad where chemical combination flooding is used, high performance temperature and salt tolerance oil displacement agents are the bottleneck for future chemical flooding.