Rafael E. Hincapie
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View article: Polymer Flooding in Space-Constrained Reservoirs: Technical and Economic Assessment of Liquid vs. Powder Polymers
Polymer Flooding in Space-Constrained Reservoirs: Technical and Economic Assessment of Liquid vs. Powder Polymers Open
This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of liquid polymer emulsions as substitutes for powder polymers in polymer flooding applications, particularly in space-constrained, low-permeability reservoirs in Austria. Rheolog…
View article: Alkali-Polymer Flooding in an Austrian Brownfield: From Laboratory to Field—Insights
Alkali-Polymer Flooding in an Austrian Brownfield: From Laboratory to Field—Insights Open
We focus on optimizing oil displacement in brownfields using alkali polymers (AP) flooding. The goal is to enhance rock–fluid and fluid–fluid interactions to improve oil recovery. The evaluation includes detailed screening of AP mixtures t…
View article: Alkali Polymer Flooding of a Romanian Field Containing Viscous Reactive Oil
Alkali Polymer Flooding of a Romanian Field Containing Viscous Reactive Oil Open
The study demonstrates the significant enhancement in oil production from a Romanian oil field using alkali–polymer (AP) flooding for reactive viscous oil. We conducted comprehensive interfacial tension (IFT) measurements across various al…
View article: Selecting EOR Polymers through Combined Approaches—A Case for Flooding in a Heterogenous Reservoir
Selecting EOR Polymers through Combined Approaches—A Case for Flooding in a Heterogenous Reservoir Open
This work uses micromodel, core floods and Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) evaluations to estimate the behaviour and key elements for selecting polymers to address heterogenous reservoirs. One of the approaches was to construct two-layered …
View article: Optimizing Polymer Costs and Efficiency in Alkali–Polymer Oilfield Applications
Optimizing Polymer Costs and Efficiency in Alkali–Polymer Oilfield Applications Open
In this work, we present various evaluations that are key prior field applications. The workflow combines laboratory approaches to optimize the usage of polymers in combination with alkali to improve project economics. We show that the per…
View article: Recovery Observations from Alkali, Nanoparticles and Polymer Flooding as Combined Processes
Recovery Observations from Alkali, Nanoparticles and Polymer Flooding as Combined Processes Open
We have studied wettability alterations through imbibition/flooding and their synergy with interfacial tension (IFT) for alkalis, nanoparticles and polymers. Thus, the total acid number (TAN) of oil may determine the wetting-state of the r…
View article: Sorption of Nanomaterials to Sandstone Rock
Sorption of Nanomaterials to Sandstone Rock Open
We investigated the interaction of silica nanostructured particles and sandstone rock using various experimental approaches, such as fluid compatibility, batch sorption and single-phase core-floods. Diol and polyethylenglycol (PEG) surface…
View article: Wettability Changes Due to Nanomaterials and Alkali—A Proposed Formulation for EOR
Wettability Changes Due to Nanomaterials and Alkali—A Proposed Formulation for EOR Open
We investigated the usage of two silica nanomaterials (surface-modified) and alkali in enhanced oil recovery through Amott spontaneous imbibition tests, interfacial tension (IFT) measurements, and phase behavior. We evaluated the wettabili…
View article: Experimental approach for assessing filter-cake removability derived from reservoir drill-in fluids
Experimental approach for assessing filter-cake removability derived from reservoir drill-in fluids Open
Predicting formation damage in cased-hole and open-hole completion wells is of high importance. This is especially relevant when the damage is caused by reservoir drill-in fluids hence being well-bore induced. Cake filter removal has prove…
View article: On the Role of Polymer Viscoelasticity in Enhanced Oil Recovery: Extensive Laboratory Data and Review
On the Role of Polymer Viscoelasticity in Enhanced Oil Recovery: Extensive Laboratory Data and Review Open
Polymer flooding most commonly uses partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (HPAM) injected to increase the declining oil production from mature fields. Apart from the improved mobility ratio, also the viscoelasticity-associated flow effects …
View article: Variations in Wettability and Interfacial Tension during Alkali–Polymer Application for High and Low TAN Oils
Variations in Wettability and Interfacial Tension during Alkali–Polymer Application for High and Low TAN Oils Open
The injection of chemicals into sandstones can lead to alterations in wettability, where oil characteristics such as the TAN (total acid number) may determine the wetting state of the reservoir. By combining the spontaneous imbibition prin…
View article: An Elongational and Shear Evaluation of Polymer Viscoelasticity during Flow in Porous Media
An Elongational and Shear Evaluation of Polymer Viscoelasticity during Flow in Porous Media Open
This paper uses a combination of approaches to evaluate the viscoelastic phenomenon in high-molecular-weight polymers (24–28 M Daltons) used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. Rheological data were cross-analyzed with single- an…
View article: Unlocking the Effects of Fluid Optimization on Remaining Oil Saturation for the Combined Sulfate-Modified Water and Polymer Flooding
Unlocking the Effects of Fluid Optimization on Remaining Oil Saturation for the Combined Sulfate-Modified Water and Polymer Flooding Open
Interfacial interactions and wettability alteration remain as the main recovery mechanism when modified water is applied seeking to obtain higher oil recoveries. Fluid-fluid interaction could lead to the development of the called viscoelas…
View article: Coupling Microfluidics Data with Core Flooding Experiments to Understand Sulfonated/Polymer Water Injection
Coupling Microfluidics Data with Core Flooding Experiments to Understand Sulfonated/Polymer Water Injection Open
The injection of sulfonated-modified water could be an attractive application as it results in the formation of a mechanically rigid oil-water interface, and hence, possible higher oil recovery in combination with polymer. Therefore, detai…
View article: Influence of Sulfate Ions on the Combined Application of Modified Water and Polymer Flooding—Rheology and Oil Recovery
Influence of Sulfate Ions on the Combined Application of Modified Water and Polymer Flooding—Rheology and Oil Recovery Open
Oil recovery using modified/smart water technology can be maximized by optimizing the composition of the injected water. Brine optimization is also believed to improve polymer flooding performance. This chapter assesses and defines the pot…
View article: Flow Dynamics of Sulfate-Modified Water/Polymer Flooding in Micromodels with Modified Wettability
Flow Dynamics of Sulfate-Modified Water/Polymer Flooding in Micromodels with Modified Wettability Open
This work describes the flow behavior of the oil recovery obtained by the injection of sulfate-modified/low-salinity water in micromodels with different wettabilities. It provides a detailed microscopic visualization of the displacement ta…
View article: Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Permeability Changes during EOR Polymer Flooding Using Micromodels
Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Permeability Changes during EOR Polymer Flooding Using Micromodels Open
Polymer solutions are used in chemical EOR processes to achieve incremental oil recoveries through obtaining favorable mobility ratios. In the process, the in-situ viscosity is a key parameter for the polymer flood design, as well as the c…
View article: A Comprehensive Combination of Apparent and Shear Viscoelastic Data during Polymer Flooding for EOR Evaluations
A Comprehensive Combination of Apparent and Shear Viscoelastic Data during Polymer Flooding for EOR Evaluations Open
We present a comprehensive workflow to obtain the best insights into the viscoelastic behavior of polymers. Viscoelasticity is depicted in most cases by the current commercially available polymers used for EOR applications. The phenomenon …