Modeling multiphase non-Newtonian polymer flow in IPARS parallel framework

Abstract. With the depletion of oil reserves and increase in oil price, the enhanced oil recovery methods such as polymer flooding to increase oil production from waterflooded fields are becoming more attractive. Effective design of these processes is challenging because the polymer chemistry has a strong effect on reaction and fluid rheology, which in turn has s strong effect on fluid transport. Polymer flow characteristics modeled in IPARS are adsorption on rock surface, polymer viscosity as a function of shear rate, polymer and electrolytes concentrations, permeability reduction, and inaccessible pore volume. A time-splitting algorithm is used to ”independently” solve the advection, diffusion/dispersion, and chemical reactions.