Application of Modified Bentonite by Using Polymer for Conformance Study

Nowadays, one of the most common problems that production engineers are facing is water production. Due to lower viscosity of water in compare to oil, water flows easier in porous medium and probes its way in to production. One of the methods to deal with this problem is to use blocking agents. Blocking agents function can vary from restricting water’s movement by decreasing permeability of rock to completely sealing off the water path. Many different products have been used as blocking agents including gels, polymers and foams. Hypothesis of this study is based on this fact that bentonite can swell and block the porous and subsequently reduce permeability of desired area. Objectives of this study are to examine modified bentonite’s potential as a blocking agent through examining its’ swelling ability in different situations in terms of salinity, ph and temperature and compare its properties with conventional bentonite. Results proved bentonite’s swelling capacity is a function of all mentioned parameters. pH displayed its’ optimum performance on pH around 7 and 12. In these two pH points bentonite can swell to its maximum capacity. Salinity however had negative effect on swelling. Salinity can minimize the swelling capacity up to 2.4 of its initial volume. Temperature on the other hand start effecting swelling ability around 60 . temperatures below 60 didn’t affect the swelling at all. For temperatures more than 60 , each 10 increase in temperature resulted in 4% increase in swelled volume of mud.