LAUSR

Abstract The injection of preformed particle gels (PPGs) is one of the novel solutions to improve conformance control in mature waterflooded reservoirs. In this method, the interaction between PPGs and pore structure controls the performance of the PPG solution in reservoir heterogeneity correction. Thus, the behavior evaluation of these deformable particles in eroded porous media, especially near the injection wells, is a key factor in designing and simulating conformance control treatments. In this study, a central composite design is used to propose a set of flooding experiments. Then, a comprehensive statistically based method is employed to assess the effects of some factors on the mechanical entrapment performance of PPGs in washouts and induced channels. Reservoir temperature as a new factor accompanied by some other factors, including displacing-fluid velocity and gel particle-pore size ratio is selected for experimental investigations. It is indicated that all nominated factors have a significant contribution with the importance order of reservoir temperature, gel particle-pore size ratio, and displacing fluid velocity. The rising temperature and velocity cause the amount of entrapped PPGs to decrease, while gel particle-pore size ratio shows a relatively more complex behavior due to the viscoelastic nature of this product. It obeys quadratic behavior and the amount of entrapped PPGs is decreased gradually by increasing gel particle-pore size ratio and then increased dramatically. Finally, it is shown that the amount of entrapped PPGs can be predicted by using an accurate mathematical correlation. The results of this study can be used to guide the selection of best PPG size for successful water shut off under a particular reservoir condition.