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Review of recent advances in polyethylenimine crosslinked polymer gels used for conformance control applications

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Abstract

Several crosslinked polymer gels have been developed over the last 5 decades to address the different technical challenges in oil reservoirs especially conformance control operations. Among these systems, polyethylenimine (PEI) crosslinked polymer gels, which have gained a huge interest thanks to their eco-friendly aspect and thermal stability at extremely high temperatures. They have been largely examined in laboratories and implemented in oilfields since their introduction in the late 1990s. One can find in the literature many reviews on gel systems which have addressed briefly polymer/PEI gels. However, in this article, we are providing a thorough and detailed discussion on these systems and their recent developments. To do so, we are presenting the main polymer/PEI gel systems investigated over the last 2 decades. Then, we are highlighting the recent improvements that aimed to extend their gelation times and final strengths; finally, we are representing some of their successful implementations worldwide.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Génie Physique des Hydrocarbures, Faculté des Hydrocarbures et de la Chimie, Université M’Hamed Bougara de Boumerdes, Avenue de l’Indépendance, 35000, Boumerdes, Algeria

    Mohammed Abdelfetah Ghriga & Mourad Gareche

  2. Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour l’Environnement et les Matériaux, IPREM, UMR 5254, CNRS Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour/E2S, 2 Avenue P. Angot, Technopôle Hélioparc, 64000, Pau, France

    Mohammed Abdelfetah Ghriga, Bruno Grassl, Seif El Islam Lebouachera & Nathalie Andreu

  3. SONATRACH, Direction Centrale Recherche et Développement, Avenue 1 Novembre, 35000, Boumerdes, Algeria

    Mohamed Khodja

  4. Laboratoire des Sciences du Génie des Procédés Industriels, Faculté de Génie Mécanique et du Génie des Procédés, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, 16111, Bab-Ezzouar, Alger, Algeria

    Seif El Islam Lebouachera

  5. Centre de Recherche en Technologie Semi-conducteurs pour l’Energétique-Division CCPM, N2, Bd Dr. Frantz Fanon, P.O. Box 140, 16038, Alger Sept Merveilles, Algeria

    Nadjib Drouiche

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  1. Mohammed Abdelfetah Ghriga
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Ghriga, M.A., Grassl, B., Gareche, M. et al. Review of recent advances in polyethylenimine crosslinked polymer gels used for conformance control applications. Polym. Bull. 76, 6001–6029 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02687-1

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