PILOT AND INDUSTRIAL-SCALE INVESTIGATIONS OF POLYMER FLOODING EFFICIENCY FOR WATERFLOODING AT OILFIELDS OF KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The aim of this study is to systematize the results of pilot and industrial-scale polymer flooding tests at oil fields of Kazakhstan. Field data from five oil fields – Kalamkas, Zaburunye, Nuraly, Kumkol, and Uzen – covering the period 2013–2025 were analyzed. The cumulative incremental oil production at the first three fields totaled approximately 150,000 tonnes, while at Kumkol, 14,585 tonnes of additional oil were produced over 19 months using gellan gum biopolymer. The operability of the technology under extreme formation water salinity of up to 130 g/L (Kalamkas field) was demonstrated, extending the global boundaries of the method’s applicability. The findings support the transition to full-field polymer flooding at Kalamkas (80 injection and over 600 production wells) with a projected oil recovery factor increase of 7.5%. The results are applicable to the design and optimization of enhanced oil recovery processes at mature fields in Western Kazakhstan.