Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) prmessea am implemented to increase the recoverable reserves from a given field. They generally function by chemically dislodging the oil from the formation rock and/or lowering the oil’s viscosity. However, beause important downhole and facility materials are based on organic polymers, the effect of EOR on these materials can be similar to the effect on oil, namely disbanding and solubilizing them. Commonly affected oilfield polymers include elastomers, protective coatings, fiberglass pipe, and thermoplastic liners. In some cases the EOR has no direct effect but some necessary additional processes, such as chemical treatment of water flood lines, results in carry over of treatment chemicals to pipelines, valves, and storage tanks with polymers not compatible with the treatment chemical.
KEYWORDS: polymers, EOR, elastomers, explosive decompression, miscable injection