To Determine the Efficiency of Polyacrylamide and PVP as Drag Reducing Agent in Water Flow System

• Main Author: Salleh, Nurul Fadhilah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2012
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6645/1/2012%20-%20To%20determine%20the%20efficiency%20of%20polyacrylamide%20%26%20PVPAS%20drag%20reducing%20%20agent%20in%20water%20flow%20s.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6645/

Waterflooding is classified as secondary recovery yields a second batch of oil after a field was depleted by primary production. Working on a water-oil immiscibility concept, the water from injection wells will physically sweep the displaced oil to adjacent production wells. However, due to unforeseen factors, the injection performance may differ from the initially designed injectivity. This research introduces polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the drag reducing agent in water flow system. Considering fluid mechanics and polymer studies as the scopes of study that are interrelating, this study aims to perform an experimental analysis to determine the efficiency of polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as drag reducing agent by manipulating the Reynolds number, polymer concentration, and polymer degradation as the variable parameters. The experimental works start by pumping water from a storage tank and the injection point outlet is opened to introduce the polymer into the flow. The mixture was then allowed to flow through a 4-m galvanized pipe to the outlet and the pressure was observed using an analogue pressure gauge installed at the end of the test flow section. The results show that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) gives the most significant drag reduction percentage. An increased drag reduction percentage was also observed at an increased Reynolds number and polymer concentrations but however, polymer degradation results in a decreased efficiency of drag reduction especially for polyacrylamide (PAM). This study may contnbute to an improved water flow system especially for injection wells using polymer-type of drag reducing agent by increasing the injection capacity thus enhancing the efficiency of the designed waterflood system.