Application of Freshwater and Brine Polymer Flooding in the North Burbank Unit, Osage County, Oklahoma

Abstract

Summary A freshwater polymer-flood project was implemented in a 1, 440-acre area of the North Burbank Unit (NBU) in 1980 with sequential injection of 4.2 million lbm of polyacrylamide and 4.0 million lbm of a 2.9% aluminum citrate crosslinking solution. Response to polymer flooding has been very pronounced, with ultimate incremental oil recovery projected to exceed 2.5 MMSTB of oil and total project oil expected to be 4.5 MMSTB. A crosslinked polymer-flood process for use in brine was developed that displays equally favorable performance characteristics as the freshwater polymer-flooding system.