Application of a Synthetic Copolymer under Harsh Environment Conditions in the Ploen-Ost Field

In the Ploen-Ost field in northern Germany, a polymer pilot flood is being carried out under harsh reservoir conditions. For the project, it was necessary to develop a synthetic polymer resistant to the high reservoir temperatures of more than 90°C and the brine's total salt content of about 140 kg/m3. To dissolve the powdered polymer to a suitable solution, specially designed mixing facilities were installed on the site. The high retention of the polymer on reservoir material jeopardized the economics of the polymer flood. However, adsorption could be reduced by a specially developed process which uses a low-cost sacrificial agent. Injection of the polymer into Well 32a at Ploen-Ost began in September 1989. By December 1990, 37 t of chemical tracer, 295 t of sacrificial agent, and 150 t of polymer had been injected without significant problems. A response in the first well was observed in May 1990