Research Progress on Formation Drag Reducers for Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement in Oil Production

Yan Shang

doi:10.54097/s952kz55

Authors

Yan Shang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/s952kz55

Keywords:

Low-permeability Oilfield, Drag Reducer, Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement, Water Injection Method

Abstract

With the rapid increase in the exploitation of oil and gas resources, conventional oil and gas resources in most oil and gas fields in China are being depleted at an accelerating pace, and research on the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas resources has become a crucial approach to safeguarding national energy security. China is endowed with abundant low-permeability reservoir resources with great application potential, yet their exploitation is fraught with considerable challenges. Water injection into the formation is a routine practice during the exploitation of low-permeability reservoirs to maintain formation pressure and improve oil recovery efficiency. However, most low-permeability oilfields currently suffer from problems such as high water injection pressure and a high proportion of insufficient injection, which prevent the establishment of effective displacement in oil-water wells and lead to a sharp drop in formation pressure, consequently driving up the exploitation costs of low-permeability reservoirs. The application of suitable formation drag reducers for oil production in the exploitation process of low-permeability reservoirs can significantly reduce water injection pressure and enhance oil recovery efficiency. This paper aims to summarize and sort out the action mechanisms of pressure reduction and injection enhancement, the types of drag reducers, and the current research status of pressure reduction and injection enhancement. Furthermore, it proposes the development directions of drag reducers in the field of pressure reduction and injection enhancement, providing a certain technical reference for improving the exploitation efficiency of low-permeability oilfields.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Liu J, Ni X S, Ning H J, et al. Surfactant Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement Technology for Water Injection Wells in Ultra-Low Permeability Reservoirs, Petrochemical Technology, 2023, vol.30, no.11, pp.55-57.

[2] Wang J. Research on Multi-functional Chemical Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System for Low Permeability Reservoirs in Liandaowan of Changqing Oilfield (Dissertation). Qingdao: China University of Petroleum (East China), 2014.

[3] Ma B Y. Research on Acidizing Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement Technology in Low Permeability Oilfields, China Petroleum and Chemical Standard and Quality, 2023, vol.43, no.17, pp.160-162.

[4] Zhang J C, Chen X L, Tian Z H. Experiment of Polysilicic Material for Improving Waterflooding Effect in Low Permeability Oil Reservoir, Oil & Gas Recovery Technology, 2003, vol.4, pp.21.

[5] Cheng Y, Li X, Li Q, et al. "Fabrication and Augmented Injection Performance of Water Based Nanometer Polysilica Latex", Chemical Research, 2011, vol.3, pp.6.

[6] Xiong J, Li Q, Tao J, et al. Nano-injection Technology Application and Understanding in Injection Wells, Oil Drilling & Production Technology, 2010, vol.4, pp.29.

[7] Li T, He M Q, Li S M, et al. Research Status and Prospect of Drag Reducers for Fracturing in Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploitation, Science Technology and Engineering, 2024, vol.24, no.17, pp.7014-7023.

[8] Zhang C Y, Wu J Q, Wang G Z, et al. Study on Drag Reduction Characteristics and Mechanism of Guar Gum, Applied Chemical Industry, 2020, vol.49, no.1, pp.63-66.

[9] Mohammadtabar M, Sanders R S, Ghaemi S. Viscoelastic Properties of Flexible and Rigid Polymers for Turbulent Drag Reduction, Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 2020, vol.283, pp.104347.

[10] Hong C H, Choi H J, Zhang K, et al. Effect of Salt on Turbulent Drag Reduction of Xanthan Gum, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2015, vol.121, pp.342-347.

[11] Li Y F, Wang Y L, Cao X C, et al. Research and Application Progress of Drag Reducers for Fracturing in Shale Reservoirs, Fine Chemicals, 2018, vol.35, no.1, pp.1-9.

[12] Abdulbari H A, Amir R. Drag Reduction Performance and Stability of an Organic Polymer, Surfactant, and their Complexes, Chemical Engineering & Technology, 2021, vol.44, no.12, pp.2333-2340.

[13] Liu Q, Guan B S, Liu Y T, et al. Research and Application Progress of Drag Reducers for Slickwater Fracturing Fluid, Oilfield Chemistry, 2020, vol.37, no.3, pp.545-551.

[14] Rodrigues R K, Silva L A S, Vargas G G, et al. Drag Reduction by Wormlike Micelles of a Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Surfactants, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 2020, vol.23, no.1, pp.21-40.

[15] Liu Q S, Mao J C. Salt Tolerance Mechanism and Research Progress of Slickwater Drag Reducers, Energy Chemical Industry, 2022, vol.43, no.3, pp.9-14.

[16] Esfandiari N, Zareinezhad R, Habibi Z. The Investigation and Optimization of Drag Reduction in Turbulent Flow of Newtonian Fluid Passing through Horizontal Pipelines Using Functionalized Magnetic Nanophotocatalysts and Lecithin, Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, vol.28, no.1, pp.63-75.

[17] Yu Z D, Liu S X, Tang J, et al. Study on Acid-Surfactant Synergistic Pressure Reduction and Displacement Mechanism in Low Permeability Reservoirs, Modern Chemical Industry, 2025, vol.45, Suppl.2, pp.347-353.

[18] Li G H, Yang W, Wei J, et al. Analysis of Chemical Mechanism of Surfactant Flooding and Experimental Study on Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement, Contemporary Chemical Industry, 2023, vol.52, no.12, pp.2946-2949.

[19] Cao Z, Zhang Z J, Zhao Y F, et al. Preparation and Characterization of SiO₂ Nanoparticles for Injection Enhancement in Low Permeability Oilfields, Chemical Research, 2005, vol.16, no.1, pp.32-34.

[20] Lu X B, Zheng Y C, Liu X N, et al. Study on Temperature and Salt Resistant Surfactant Injection Enhancement System in Jiyuan Oilfield (in English), China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics (Chinese and English), 2022, vol.52, no.10, pp.1040-1048.

[21] Wang Y, Yang R G, Yu X D, et al. Research on Surfactant Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System for Separate Layer Water Injection Wells in Low Permeability Blocks of Yanchang Oilfield, Contemporary Chemical Industry, 2022, vol.51, no.8, pp.1996-1999.

[22] Cao Y. Heavy Oil Emulsification and Viscosity Reduction Technology Based on Fatty Alcohol Ether Glycoside (Dissertation). Jinan: Shandong University, 2024.

[23] Liu J P, Wu Y G. Study on the Effect of Alkyl Polyglycoside and Alcohol Ether Glycoside on the Interfacial Tension of Liaohe Heavy Oil, Applied Chemical Industry, 2024, vol.53, no.1, pp.126-130.

[24] Qi C M, Xia Y, Tang S F, et al. Multi-component Composite Acid Plugging Removal Technology for Water Injection Wells in Yanchang Oilfield, Chemical Engineering of Oil & Gas, 2025, vol.54, no.6, pp.91-97.

[25] Zhang J, Tian Y, Zheng H X, et al. Study on Pressure Reduction, Injection Enhancement and Plugging Removal Performance of Composite Acid Based on Gemini Surfactant, Applied Chemical Industry, 2024, vol.53, no.12, pp.2826-2831.

[26] Zhou E J, Yuan H N, Wang X Z, et al. Performance Evaluation of a New Acid Liquid for Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement, Petrochemical Safety and Environmental Protection Technology, 2024, vol.40, no.6, pp.32-36,6-7.

[27] Li Y. Research on Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement Technology for Low Permeability Reservoirs in Gaoshangpu Oilfield (Dissertation). Chengdu: Southwest Petroleum University, 2023.

[28] Li J B. Experimental Study on a New Latent Acid Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System, Shandong Chemical Industry, 2022, vol.51, no.16, pp.42-44.

[29] Wang X J, Wu D Z, Li J X, et al. Experimental Study on a New Latent Acid Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System, Adhesion, 2022, vol.49, no.3, pp.12-16.

[30] Ding J, Yang Z Q, Li T. Research Progress of Modified Nano-Silicon Dioxide in Oilfield Development, Petrochemical Application, 2025, vol.44, no.9, pp.6-11.

[31] Liu L J, Zeng S J, Xiong N L, et al. Performance Evaluation of Temperature and Salt Resistant Nano-SiO₂ Microemulsion in Low Porosity and Low Permeability Reservoirs, Contemporary Chemical Industry, 2025, vol.54, no.5, pp.1127-1131.

[32] Chen G G, Yu H J, Lei L, et al. Construction and Performance of Composite Carbon Quantum Dot Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System, Speciality Petrochemicals, 2025, vol.42, no.2, pp.11-15.

[33] Wu K, Wen S C, Shao W, et al. Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement Effect of Nano-SiO₂ Microemulsion on Southern Shaanxi Tight Oil Reservoirs, Oilfield Chemistry, 2024, vol.41, no.2, pp.245-250.

[34] Lan S, Zhang D X, Wang Y, et al. Experimental Study on Micro-nanoemulsion Injection Enhancement Technology in Low Permeability Reservoirs, Petrochemical Technology, 2024, vol.53, no.4, pp.553-558.

[35] Wang J H, Li Y, Feng Y B, et al. Preparation of Modified Nano-Silicon Dioxide Fluid and its Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement Law, Petrochemical Technology, 2023, vol.52, no.3, pp.352-357.

[36] Mohareb R M, Badawi A M, El-Din M R N, et al. Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Surfactants Based on Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride as Drag Reduction Agent, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 2015, vol.18, no.3, pp.1-7.

[37] Ellina K, Gabriel O, David J H, et al. Study on the Characteristics of Novel Zwitterionic Surfactants as Drag Reducing Agents", Journal of Polymer Research, 2015, vol.21, pp.212-217.

[38] Liu Y, Wu J, Song Y Z, et al. "Application Research of Gemini Surfactant Injection Enhancement Technology in Low Permeability Reservoirs of Nanpu Oilfield, China Mining Magazine, 2022, vol.31, Suppl.1, pp.460-464.

[39] Wang Z B, Wang J, Tong M, et al. Study on Surfactant/ Organic Base Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System for Low Permeability Reservoirs, Oilfield Chemistry, 2014, vol.31, no.4, pp.573-577.

[40] Wei G F. Research on Surfactant Pressure Reduction and Injection Enhancement System for Low Permeability Reservoirs in Yanchang Oilfield, Petrochemical Technology, 2024, vol.31, no.12, pp.21-23.

[41] Shu Q L, Mu M, Zhang X Y, et al. Mechanism and Application of Drag Reduction-Imbibition-Displacement Synergistic Development Technology, Petroleum Geology and Recovery Efficiency, 2023, vol.30, no.6, pp.72-79.

[42] Yang X, Lai X J, Duan G D, et al. Development of Salt-Tolerant Retarded Acid Drag Reducer GnR-1, Modern Chemical Industry, 2020, vol.40, no.12, pp.164-167,172.

[43] Ge Y Z, Zhao W N, Zhang C, et al. Preparation and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Resistant Polyglycolic Acid Retarded Acid, Oilfield Chemistry, 2023, vol.40, no.3, pp.394-400.

[44] Xu H, Zhou F J, Yang S S, et al. Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Resistant Weightable Acidic Cross-linked Fracturing Fluid, Petroleum Science Bulletin, 2024, vol.9, no.3, pp.503-512.

[45] Liu D X, Zhao H, Dong Y L, et al. Homologous Heteromorphic Microlactic Acid Plugging Removal System and its Mechanism for Low Permeability Sandstone Reservoirs, Petroleum Geology and Recovery Efficiency, 2025, vol.32, no.3, pp.88-99.

[46] Li J H, Fan H M, Wei Z Y, et al. Research Progress and Prospect of Nanomaterials in Low Permeability Reservoirs, Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2025, vol.44, no.3, pp.1485-1495.

[47] Yang J Z, Xu G R, Li X, et al. Test and Profile Control Performance of Pickering Emulsion System Based on Janus Nanoparticles, Speciality Petrochemicals, 2024, vol.41, no.6, pp.30-34.

[48] Li S S, Feng Q, Gong R X, et al. Performance Evaluation and Application of Multi-functional Nano-Injection Enhancement System in Offshore Medium and Low Permeability Reservoirs, Chemical Engineering of Oil & Gas, 2023, vol.52, no.5, pp.80-85.

[49] Hu H X, Zhang J, Lu D L. Preparation of Functional Nanofluid Dispersion and Pressure Reduction for Oil Drainage, Science Technology and Engineering, 2020, vol.20, no.16, pp.6429-6432.

[50] Wei J, Zheng S, Deng S X, et al. Research on the Influence of Nanofluid Chemical Flooding on Improving Oil Recovery in Oilfields, Contemporary Chemical Industry, 2023, vol.52, no.5, pp.1216-1219.

[51] Cao Z, Zhang Z J, Zhao Y F, et al. Preparation and Characterization of SiO2 Nanoparticles for Injection Enhancement in Low Permeability Oilfields, Chemical Research, 2005, vol.16, no.1, pp.32-34.