POLYMER SOLUTION VISCOSITY FUNCTIONS – ECLIPSE 100 (2014)

Different viscosity functions (polymer solution concentration vs. viscosity multiplier) were used to
evaluate the calculation of polymer solution viscosity in the simulator.

The injected fluid concentration is 0.7 lb/stb for all cases, and the viscosity functions for each case
are:

Case 1: Case 5: Two regions

PLYVISC PLYVISC
-- Polymer Solution Viscosity Function -- Polymer Solution Viscosity Function
0 1 0 1.00
0.7 10 0.1 2.29
/ 0.2 3.57
PLYMAX 0.3 4.86
-- Polymer/Salt Concentrations 0.4 6.14
0.7 0 0.5 7.43
/ 0.6 8.71
0.7 10.00
Case 2: /
PLYVISC 0 1.00
-- Polymer Solution Viscosity Function 0.1 1.57
0 1 0.2 2.14
0.35 10 0.3 2.71
/ 0.4 3.29
PLYMAX 0.5 3.86
-- Polymer/Salt Concentrations 0.6 4.43
0.7 0 0.7 5.00
/ /
PLYMAX
Case 3: -- Polymer/Salt Concentrations
PLYVISC 1.4 0
-- Polymer Solution Viscosity Function /
0 1
1.4 10
/
PLYMAX
-- Polymer/Salt Concentrations
0.7 0
/

Case 4:
PLYVISC
-- Polymer Solution Viscosity Function
0 1
1.4 10
/
PLYMAX
-- Polymer/Salt Concentrations
1.4 0
/
RESULTS

Figure 1 shows the viscosity responses for block 1 by using the viscosity functions described previously.
There is no difference in the viscosity calculated for each function.

Figure 1 Comparison of different viscosity functions - Case 1 and 2.

Figure 2 shows the result of using a maximum concentration in the viscosity function higher than the
injected fluid concentration (case 3).

Figure 2 Comparison of different viscosity functions - Case 1, 2 & 3.

Figure 3 includes the results for case 4, which uses the same function as case 3 but with a PLYMAX of
1.4.

Figure 3 Comparison of different viscosity functions - Case 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Figure 4 show the simulation result for case 5. In this case, two linear viscosity functions were defined
for two regions in the grid.

Figure 4 Results of using linear viscosity functions in two different regions - Case 5.

CONCLUSIONS

- The simulator normalizes the viscosity function to the injected concentration (PLYMAX =
MAX(WPOLYMER)) when the maximum concentration in the function is lower than that value
(Case 2).
- When the maximum concentration in the function higher than the injected concentration, the
viscosity multiplier is scaled down (Case 3).
- If the PLYMAX is set higher than the injected concentration, the simulator seems to scale up
the injected concentration. This calculation is not clear. (Case 4).
- ECLIPSE only considers the zero and maximum concentration and their respective viscosity
multipliers to generate the viscosity function. No matter what can sort of function is defined
as an input (PLYVIS, Case 5 – Linear function), the simulator considers only the maximum
concentration and viscosity multiplier to perform the calculations.