Cairn India begins polymer injection in Mangala field to improve oil recovery

Cairn India, one of the leading private oil and gas exploration and production companies in India, has initiated polymer injection at the Mangala field to enhance recovery of oil. “Mangala enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project, which is among the largest polymer flood EOR programmes in the world, commences well ahead of the guidance provided by the company. The polymer injection activity would gradually be ramped up,” said Cairn India in a press release.
 
Polymer flooding, also known as chemical flooding or chemical EOR, is one of the preferred EOR technologies used for improving oil recovery - particularly in older and declining oil wells/oil reservoirs. In polymer flooding, polymer (or polymers) is used to make the water injected into the injection well oil reservoirs more viscous or thick like a gel. This greatly enhances oil production, and is particularly beneficial in heavy oil recovery.
 
“Cairn India had recognised the potential for chemical EOR at an early stage of development in its Mangala, Bhagyam and Aishwariya (MBA) fields. The reservoir quality, oil properties and ambient temperature make these fields ideal for the application of chemical flooding EOR methods such as polymer or alkaline surfactant polymer (ASP) flooding. The chemical EOR programme has a potential to enhance recoveries from the Mangala, Bhagyam and Aishwariya fields by around 300 mmbbls,” the release added.
 
The Mangala ASP pilot programme, the next phase of EOR has also yielded excellent results so far, suggesting better mobilisation of oil post polymer flooding.
 
Sudhir Mathur CFO, Cairn India, said, “Injecting the polymer at our world class polymer flood EOR project, ahead of schedule is a testament to our execution skills and team work. This will enable us to further unlock the potential of the prolific Rajasthan block and help contribute significantly towards the nation’s energy security.”