Placement of gels in stratified reservoirs using a sequential injection technique

The mechanism of deep emplacement of a polymer gel plug in a stratified reservoir was analyzed. Calculations of the process were conducted with a 2-D two-phase multicomponent flow simulator. In-situ gel treatment in a stratified reservoir is achieved by injecting a sequence of two reactants and intermediate water slugs. The method enables gel plugs to be formed in different parts of the reservoir. This paper includes a description of the simulator and mathematical formulations that deal with in-situ gelation. Results from in-situ gel calculations are discussed in some detail, particularly the effects that influence position of plug emplacement. The impact on fluid production of reservoir plugging is also considered in the framework of an approximate approach.