Title Rheological evaluation of xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose for enhanced oil recovery: effects of concentration, salinity, and temperature
Authors Jehangir, Muzammil ; Iqbal, Tanveer ; Yasin, Saima ; Ramzan, Naveed ; Jamil, Asif
DOI 10.1088/2631-8695/ae1dc8
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Is Part of Engineering research express.. Bristol : Institute of Physics. 2025, vol. 7, iss. 4, art. no. 045009, p. 1-12.. ISSN 2631-8695
Keywords [eng] carboxymethyl cellulose ; enhanced oil recovery ; Herschel-Bulkley model ; rheology ; xanthan gum
Abstract [eng] Global energy demand continues to rise and is projected to increase by 50%–60% in the next decade. To meet this demand, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques are being employed to maximize extraction from existing reservoirs. Polymer flooding is a promising EOR method, where water-soluble polymers improve sweep efficiency by increasing the viscosity of the displacing fluid. However, successful polymer flooding relies on careful polymer selection and a thorough understanding of rheological behavior. This study presents a systematic rheological evaluation of two polymers, Xanthan Gum (XG, C35H49O29) and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), at varying concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 wt%) for EOR applications. Steady-shear rheology, thermal stability, and salinity effects were investigated to assess polymer performance under different conditions. The Herschel-Bulkley and Cross models were used to characterize the non-Newtonian behavior of the polymers. Results indicate that higher polymer concentrations enhance viscosity and shear-thinning behavior. However, salinity (NaCl and MgCl2) reduces solution viscosity, while increasing temperature (25 °C, 50 °C, and 75 °C) further diminishes viscosity. These findings provide critical insights into polymer selection and optimization for efficient EOR processes.
Published Bristol : Institute of Physics
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2025
CC license CC license description