Stability, CO2 sensitivity, oil tolerance and displacement efficiency of polymer enhanced foam

Abstract

This paper focuses on the benefits of polymers that contribute to foam flooding, such as foam stability, carbon dioxide (CO₂) sensitivity, oil tolerance and displacement efficiency. From the results, polymer enhanced foam was found to have a high stability and an insignificant coalescence mainly because of the high viscous force and strong foam films. Some significant improvements of foam properties were observed in the polymer enhanced CO₂ foam, especially in a supercritical state (16 MPa, 90 °C), and polymer enhanced foam showed remarkable oil tolerance because of the fact that the stable emulsion was uniformly dispersed in liquid films. Furthermore, polymer enhanced foam could promote mobility control and increase the liquid division and enhanced oil recovery in a strong heterogeneous formation.