Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Conformance control enhances sweep efficiency by addressing uneven fluid distribution in the reservoir during waterflooding or EOR processes. These methods often perform poorly because of reservoir heterogeneity and unfavorable fluid mobility ratios. Common conformance technologies include polymer gels such as bulk gel, Colloidal Dispersion Gel (CDG), small or soft microgels or SMGs, Preformed Particle Gel (PPG), Relative Permeability Modifier (RPM), foams, nanoparticles, and emulsions, many of which have been used worldwide for decades, with some recently proposed.</jats:p> <jats:p>However, due to an inadequate understanding of how these technologies work and their limitations, their field applications have been somewhat restricted. This has led to a range of controversial and debated issues. This paper focuses on examining these technologies through discussions with inventors and field operators to help analyze example field performance, with the emphasis on the technologies executed in the field.</jats:p> <jats:p>There are multiple reviews on the conformance control technology. However, most of these reviews focus on a specific type or class of gel, laboratory studies, or simulation results and lack comprehensive coverage of all available conformance technologies. Based on a thorough and critical review of published information, we systematically assessed these technologies for their relevance to the oil and gas industry with an unbiased approach supported by laboratory data and field results. Our analysis clarifies how misconceptions and mistrust of these conformance technologies originate from some improperly designed laboratory studies that cannot be scaled up to the reservoir, and the mismatch between the choice of conformance control method and the suitable reservoirs. We would also assess the potential contribution of the conformance technology to the chemical EOR in the industry.</jats:p> <jats:p>To help operators select the appropriate conformance process for a specific field, we introduce a set of criteria based on the latest and most comprehensive review of conformance control techniques, along with practical insights and field-proven practices. This aims to improve the success rate of such treatments. In addition to explaining the mechanisms and limitations of laboratory studies and field applications, we also suggest future research directions to enhance the applicability of these technologies. This includes the development of mechanistic predictive software tools to encourage operators to utilize them in design and operation, thereby optimizing outcomes.</jats:p>