Abstract
Polymer flooding is an enhanced oil recovery technique that can increase production and improve recovery from mature fields. As polymer flooding is usually considered after other production strategies have been employed, the produced fluids are usually processed through existing facilities. These facilities have not been designed specifically for handling produced polymer which can affect the facility performance. For a polymer flood field in the Sultanate of Oman, the impact on crude dehydration was identified as a major risk to the existing facilities. A series of tests on emulsion breaking and heater fouling were conducted to determine the potential impact and identify any means of mitigating them. Produced fluids from the field containing polymer were tested along with synthetic polymer designed to mimic the produced polymer properties. A polymer handling limit was established for emulsion breaking in the facilities as well as the fouling potential for the crude oil heaters and a temperature threshold above which fouling occurs.
