Synthesis and behavior evaluation of a relative permeability modifier

Using N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (MPEGMA) as raw materials, hydrophobically associating copolymer was synthesized by inverse emulsion polymerization and structurally confirmed by FTIR. Choosing partially hydrolyzed polymer of the copolymer as a relative permeability modifier, its intrinsic viscosity reaches 212.66 mL/g at 25 °C. Its adsorbability on the oil sandstone is investigated, that is to say, the equilibrium concentration is approximately 5100 mg/L while the saturated adsorption is about 0.652 mg/g. Temperature and salt also have a certain effect of RPM system based on the partially hydrolyzed polymer. Finally, the residual resistance factors to water and oil were measured by core displacement test. The results show that the flow resistance of the system to water is 19.9 times as large as that to oil. That is, the system has obvious selectivity to water and oil.

► Copolymer was synthesized by using MPEGMA and DMAEMA as monomers.
► The RPM is a partially hydrolyzed polymer HP(MPEGMA-DMAEMA).
► The RPM system has obvious selectivity to water and oil.