Abstract
Many oilfields around the world are using enhanced oil recovery methods to maximize oil production. Longterm water flooding processes have led to water channeling in mature reservoirs, which is a severe problem in oilfields. Polymer gel is widely used as a plugging agent to reduce water production. Previously, the conventional polymer gel is extensively used for blocking the thief zones, but the performance of conventional polymer gel is not satisfactory in high salinity and high temperature conditions due to rapid syneresis and thermal degradation. The amphiphilic polymer is taking much attention for polymer gel formulation because they are more salt resistant in low concentration compared to high concentration conventional HPAM polymer. In this paper, the crosslinking mechanism of insitu polymer gel is reviewed. The related difficulties and development prospects of polymer gels are presented. It provides a basis for the application of polymer gel in oilfield conformance control treatment. This will help researchers to develop polymer gels to improve oil recovery under economic conditions to meet the requirements of oilfields.