Channeling Control and Deep Chemical Conformance Technologies: Colombian and Global Treatments Review
Authors: Gutiérrez M. , Castro R. H. , Corredor L. M. , Rojas D. M. , Jimenez R , García J. S. , Reyes J. D. , Dueñas D. E. , Londoño F. W. , Llanos S. , Barbosa C. , Quintero H. I. , Romero J. 
Published: April 2024

Conformance challenges occur in secondary or tertiary processes when the injected drive-fluid (water or gas) prematurely breaks through in one or more producers. In reservoirs considering significant variation in permeability within the oil-bearing rock, injection drive fluids will follow the path of minimum resistance, flowing through only that small fraction of the reservoir that contains the highest permeability. This article aims to share experiences in specific fields in Colombia and some global data applying different chemical conformance technologies, including candidate selection methodology, laboratory evaluation, treatment execution, and monitoring. In the last 15 years, different Colombian fields have implemented channeling control (BG, bulk gels) and deep chemical conformance (TAP, thermally activated polymers) treatments to test technical and economic feasibility. BG treatments began in 2008 and have been applied to approximately 50 injection wells in nine fields and five different reservoirs, with 50% of these projects in the last three years in just one field. On the other hand, TAP treatments began in 2020 and have been applied to seven injection wells in one field. Unfortunately, the number of conformance treatments is low compared to the number of injection wells in the country (approximately 1,200).

Treatment results have a positive impact, such as increasing oil production, decreasing the water-oil ratio-WOR, and improving the recovery factor. Advances in the last decade have augmented the interest in applying conformance technologies in different fields in Colombia. On average, 3 barrels of incremental oil have been produced for every bulk gel barrel injected, with an average cost per incremental oil barrel below US$ 5. These treatments improved the areal and vertical efficiency of the waterflooding process, reducing preferential water channeling. TAP and BG can also enhance the efficiency of chemical-enhanced recovery processes. This article reviews publications and includes our experience with conformance treatments in Colombian fields to improve water and chemical flooding efficiency. In this review, a short state of the art and description of the characteristics of the technology were structured, as well as the objective and reported results of each treatment implemented. In addition, factors such as design, operating conditions during its execution, and process efficiency were included. Finally, there is a discussion about the technical efforts in the implemented technology, new challenges, and critical parameters for the massification stage in the country, considering analysis, candidate selection, design, field application, and post-treatment evaluation. Additionally, it summarizes the results and lessons learned from ±700 injection wells treated with BG worldwide over the last 25 years to encourage the massive application of the conformance technologies necessary to improve the oil recovery factor.