Variation of relative permeability during polymer flooding and corresponding simulation results in a heavy oil reservoir model

From the comparison of different lab-data in the literature, it was concluded that viscosity ratio has a marked effect on relative permeability. With oil-water viscosity ratio increasing, oil (non-wetting phase) relative permeability decreases and water relative permeability increases. During the polymer flooding process in a heavy oil reservoir, the viscosity ratio changed so much that the relative permeability also had to changes, which is not in agreement with the literature. Variable relative permeabilities were used to simulate the polymer flooding process in a heavy oil reservoir model, and the simulation results were compared with results using non-variable relative permeability. It was proven that simulation results with variable permeabilities were more compatible with lab-data regarding polymer flooding of viscous oils.