Prediction and evaluation of gel beads profile control performance after polymer flooding

Gel beads profile control is an effective technique to enhance oil recovery after polymer flooding. However, there is no relevant prediction and evaluation method to guide the field application. An analytical equation between water cut and recovery factor is presented for the technique, which can forecast the variation of oil/water production and water cut during the process of deep gel beads profile control. Many numerical simulation cases designed by orthogonal design method on the basis of conceptual model are fitted to derive the empirical prediction equation of dimensionless oil increment multiplier, which can be used to easily predict such indexes as enhanced oil recovery, incremental oil and reduced water. Finally, the evaluation method of gel beads profile control is proposed in a hierarchy of injection wells, production wells and block. The results show that the analytical equation and empirical equation can be used to quickly and accurately predict the performance of gel beads profile control and the hierarchal evaluation method can systematically appraise the field effects of gel beads profile control.