David O. Falk

Synergism in Thickened Water Systems for Improved Oil Recovery

Bicomponent water soluble polymer systems were tested for synergism in viscosity, screen factor, and recovery efficiency (using the Maraflood process). Synergism in one measurement for a specific polymer system was not necessarily accompanied by synergism in the other measurements. Synergism was unpredictable from the chemical nature and structure of the polymers. However, it was related to hydrogen bonding between the polymers and interactions involving water. The largest interactions were noted between nonionic and anionic systems. Four synergistic oil recovery systems have been patented by these authors. Out of 106 systems tested only nine showed significant screen factor synergism.