A comprehensive review of advanced polymer gel technologies in enhanced oil recovery and water production control

Excessive water production is a major challenge in the petroleum industry, significantly reducing oil recovery efficiency and increasing operational costs by approximately $50 billion annually. Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, such as thermal and non-thermal techniques, aim to improve oil production by altering reservoir and fluid properties. Thermal methods, including steam injection and electromagnetic heating (EMH), have shown oil production increases ranging from 11 % to 500 %, despite high initial costs and operational complexities. Non-thermal methods, such as polymer, surfactant, and alkaline injections, target light to medium viscosity oils, achieving oil recovery improvements between 5 % to 45 %. Chemical methods, particularly polymer gels, have gained prominence for their efficacy in controlling excessive water production and enhancing oil recovery. Polyacrylamide gels, known for their profile control capabilities, can increase oil recovery by 10–30 %. Recent advancements in microgels and nanogels offer better stability and compatibility with harsh reservoir conditions, such as high salinity and temperatures, resulting in recovery improvements up to 35 %. Field studies demonstrate the USA and Canada leading in EOR adoption, with polymer injection projects constituting over 80 % of chemical EOR applications. To further advance oil recovery and address excessive water production, continued research into optimizing polymer gel formulations and exploring new chemical EOR methods is essential. Tailoring EOR techniques to specific reservoir conditions, including temperature, salinity, and rock permeability, will enhance their effectiveness. The integration of nanoparticles into polymer gels shows promise for improving structural strength and performance, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in the petroleum industry.