PROCESS FOR REDUCING VISCOSITY OF POLYMER-CONTAINING FLUID PRODUCED IN THE RECOVERY OF OIL

摘要

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a fluid containing oil and water from an oil-bearing formation and separating an oil phase and an aqueous phase from the produced fluid. An aqueous polymer mixture is formed by mixing polymer in water having a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 15,000 ppm. The aqueous polymer mixture is injected into an oil-bearing formation, and, after injecting the aqueous polymer mixture into the formation, a fluid is produced from the oil-bearing formation containing an oil phase and an aqueous polymer-containing phase. Brine is mixed with the produced fluid to enhance separation of the oil phase from the aqueous polymer phase.