Polymer Flooding Design and Optimization Training Course

Polymer Flooding Design and Optimization Training Course

Introduction

Polymer Flooding Design and Optimization Training Course is designed to equip petroleum engineers, reservoir engineers, production specialists, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) professionals with advanced technical skills for improving oil recovery from conventional and mature oil reservoirs. This course explores the fundamental principles of polymer injection, reservoir characterization, polymer rheology, fluid–fluid interactions, mobility control, reservoir simulation, injectivity management, and recovery factor optimization. Participants will develop a practical understanding of how polymer solutions improve waterflood performance by increasing the viscosity of injected water, reducing water mobility, improving sweep efficiency, and diverting injected fluids toward previously unswept reservoir zones. The programme also examines polymer selection, concentration design, salinity compatibility, temperature effects, adsorption, mechanical degradation, and reservoir heterogeneity to support technically sound and economically viable polymer flooding projects.

The training emphasizes data-driven EOR optimization, digital reservoir engineering, predictive modelling, uncertainty analysis, and lifecycle performance management to help organizations design reliable polymer flooding strategies for challenging reservoir conditions. Participants will learn how to integrate laboratory measurements, core flooding experiments, pressure transient data, production history, and numerical reservoir simulation into effective field development decisions. Practical exercises and industry-based case studies will cover polymer slug sizing, injection rate optimization, well pattern selection, pressure management, produced water handling, and economic evaluation of alternative development scenarios. The course also addresses operational challenges such as polymer retention, injectivity loss, formation damage, shear sensitivity, equipment compatibility, and polymer supply costs. By the end of the programme, participants will be better prepared to evaluate polymer flooding feasibility, optimize injection strategies, improve volumetric sweep, reduce premature water breakthrough, and develop cost-effective, sustainable, and commercially attractive enhanced oil recovery projects that support long-term petroleum asset value creation.

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the principles of polymer flooding and advanced enhanced oil recovery (EOR) for improving reservoir performance.
2. Evaluate reservoir characteristics, including permeability, porosity, heterogeneity, and fluid properties, for polymer flooding suitability.
3. Select appropriate polymer types and formulations based on reservoir temperature, salinity, pressure, and crude oil characteristics.
4. Analyze polymer rheology, viscosity behaviour, and non-Newtonian flow properties under reservoir conditions.
5. Design polymer injection programmes using optimized concentrations, slug sizes, injection rates, and treatment schedules.
6. Apply reservoir simulation and predictive modelling to forecast polymer flooding performance and recovery potential.
7. Optimize mobility ratio, displacement efficiency, and sweep efficiency to improve incremental oil recovery.
8. Assess polymer adsorption, retention, degradation, and mechanical shear effects on reservoir injectivity.
9. Develop strategies for managing injection pressure, formation damage, and polymer-related injectivity challenges.
10. Interpret laboratory core flooding results and translate experimental findings into field-scale designs.
11. Use production data analytics and performance indicators to monitor polymer flooding effectiveness.
12. Conduct EOR economic evaluation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty modelling to assess project profitability.
13. Develop integrated polymer flooding optimization plans that enhance recovery, reduce operating costs, and maximize asset value.

Target Audience

1. Petroleum engineers and reservoir engineers.
2. Enhanced oil recovery specialists and chemical flooding engineers.
3. Production engineers 
4. Reservoir simulation engineers and subsurface modelling specialists.
5. Laboratory researchers and core analysis professionals working on EOR technologies.
6. Field operations managers and waterflooding project supervisors.
7. Petroleum asset managers, technical team leaders, and project development specialists.
8. Energy consultants, petroleum economists, and technical decision-makers evaluating EOR investments.

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of Polymer Flooding and Enhanced Oil Recovery

• Principles of chemical enhanced oil recovery and polymer-assisted displacement.
• Comparison of polymer flooding, conventional waterflooding, surfactant flooding, and alkaline flooding.
• Mechanisms of mobility control, sweep improvement, and incremental oil recovery.
• Reservoir conditions influencing polymer flooding feasibility and technical performance.
• Case study: Comparing conventional waterflooding and polymer flooding in a mature sandstone reservoir.

Module 2: Reservoir Characterization and Polymer Flooding Screening

• Assessment of reservoir porosity, permeability, heterogeneity, and connectivity.
• Evaluation of crude oil viscosity, formation water chemistry, and reservoir pressure.
• Impact of reservoir temperature and salinity on polymer selection and performance.
• Screening criteria for sandstone and carbonate reservoirs.
• Case study: Screening candidate reservoirs for polymer flooding based on reservoir properties and expected recovery gains.

Module 3: Polymer Chemistry, Rheology, and Formulation Design

• Types of polymers used in EOR, including partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and selected biopolymers.
• Polymer molecular weight, concentration, viscosity, and shear-thinning behaviour.
• Effects of salinity, hardness, temperature, and pH on polymer performance.
• Polymer hydration, mixing procedures, filtration, and solution preparation.
• Case study: Selecting a polymer formulation for a high-salinity reservoir while balancing viscosity, injectivity, and cost.

Module 4: Polymer Injection Design and Slug Optimization

• Determination of polymer concentration and target solution viscosity.
• Design of polymer slug size, pore-volume injection, and treatment duration.
• Optimization of injection rates, well spacing, and injection schedules.
• Integration of polymer flooding with preflush, post-flush, and water injection stages.
• Case study: Optimizing polymer slug size and concentration to improve recovery while controlling chemical expenditure.

Module 5: Reservoir Simulation and Predictive Modelling

• Fundamentals of numerical simulation for polymer flooding projects.
• Representation of polymer viscosity, adsorption, retention, and inaccessible pore volume.
• History matching and calibration using laboratory and field production data.
• Scenario modelling for injection strategies, well patterns, and reservoir heterogeneity.
• Case study: Using reservoir simulation scenarios to compare recovery forecasts for different polymer injection designs.

Module 6: Injectivity Management and Operational Optimization

• Evaluation of polymer injectivity, pressure gradients, and formation damage risks.
• Identification of mechanical degradation, polymer retention, and filtration-related challenges.
• Management of injection pressure limits and near-wellbore flow restrictions.
• Optimization of surface facilities, polymer mixing systems, filtration, and pumping equipment.
• Case study: Diagnosing declining injectivity in a polymer flooding pilot and developing an operational improvement plan.

Module 7: Field Implementation, Surveillance, and Performance Monitoring

• Planning polymer flooding pilots, scale-up strategies, and full-field implementation.
• Monitoring injection pressure, polymer concentration, water cut, and oil production trends.
• Application of production data analytics and performance dashboards.
• Management of polymer breakthrough, produced water treatment, and operational risks.
• Case study: Evaluating pilot performance using injection and production data to determine whether polymer flooding should be expanded.

Module 8: Economic Evaluation, Optimization, and Project Sustainability

• Estimation of polymer procurement, preparation, injection, and operating costs.
• Calculation of incremental recovery, net present value (NPV), and project profitability.
• Sensitivity analysis for oil prices, polymer prices, recovery factors, and injection performance.
• Evaluation of uncertainty, environmental considerations, water management, and project risks.
• Case study: Developing an economically optimized polymer flooding development plan for a mature oilfield with declining waterflood performance.

Training Methodology

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
• Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
• Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
• Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
• Expert-led Q&A sessions.
• Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.