Numerical Simulation of Oil Recovery by Polymer Injection using COMSOL

J. Wegner[1], L. Ganzer[1]
[1]Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal, Germany
Published in 2012

In this paper we used COMSOL Multiphysics to model basic physico-chemical effects relevant in polymer enhanced oil recovery (EOR) such as non-Newtonian rheology of the displacing phase, permeability reduction, adsorption and salinity effects. COMSOL\'s PDE interface as well as Species Transport in Porous Media interface was used for solving the underlying equations. The validity of the implementation is tested by comparing the results obtained with COMSOL with those obtained from a commercial reservoir simulator. The results show good agreement indicating successful implementation. Due to its PDE and Species Transport in Porous Media Interface COMSOL Multiphysics provides a flexible framework to implement basic physical and chemical mechanisms relevant to polymer EOR.