Bulk rheology characterization of biopolymer solutions and discussions of their potential for enhanced oil recovery applications

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques are essential to improve production, and polymer flooding has become one of the promising technologies for Brazilian Pre-Salt scenario. Biopolymers offer a range advantages considering conditions compared synthetic polymers, such as resistance high salinity, temperature, mechanical degradation. In that sense, bulk rheology is first step in workflow performance analysis.
 This paper presents rheological analysis four biopolymers (Schizophyllan, Scleroglucan, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum) concentrations from 10 2,300 ppm, generally suitable EOR applications, temperature levels 25, 40, 50, 60 70°C two brines 30,100 ppm 69,100 total dissolved solids, which aim model seawater mixture between injected reservoir water typical conditions. The pseudoplastic behavior, overlap concentration, activation energy were determined each solution.
 structural differences polymers resulted different behaviors. Schizophyllan most promising, its viscosifying power higher than comparable Gum. Its at temperatures polymers. Scleroglucan behaved similarly with added advantage being nonionic. Gum had lowest viscosities, highest concentrations, pronounced viscosity decay among tested polymers.
 To author’s knowledge, studies presented here, viscosities concentration energy, Pre-salt conditions, not available literature this will benefit future works depend on information