Abstract: A method includes providing a gelant including a cross-linkable polymer, a crosslinking agent and an aqueous fluid, adding one or more fluorescent rare earth elements to the gelant to provide a fluorescent gelant solution in which a fluorescence emission is quenched, and initiating crosslinking of the gelant to form a gel by heating the fluorescent gelant solution. The intensity of the fluorescence emission of the fluorescent gelant solution is monitored as an indicator of gelation status and a gelation point of the gelant may be identified based on the intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent gelant solution.

Abstract: A porous micromodel network to simulate formation flows includes a substrate, two or more porous micromodels formed on the substrate and a fluid inlet formed on the substrate. The first porous micromodel defines a first fluidic flow pathway and is representative of a first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. Flow through the first fluidic flow pathway is representative of flow through the first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. The second porous micromodel is fluidically isolated from the first porous micromodel. The second porous micromodel defines a second fluidic flow pathway different from the first fluidic flow pathway. The second porous micromodel is representative of a second hydrocarbon-carrying formation different from the first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. Flow through the second fluidic flow pathway is representative of flow through the second hydrocarbon-carrying formation.

Abstract: A porous micromodel network to simulate formation flows includes a substrate, two or more porous micromodels formed on the substrate and a fluid inlet formed on the substrate. The first porous micromodel defines a first fluidic flow pathway and is representative of a first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. Flow through the first fluidic flow pathway is representative of flow through the first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. The second porous micromodel is fluidically isolated from the first porous micromodel. The second porous micromodel defines a second fluidic flow pathway different from the first fluidic flow pathway. The second porous micromodel is representative of a second hydrocarbon-carrying formation different from the first hydrocarbon-carrying formation. Flow through the second fluidic flow pathway is representative of flow through the second hydrocarbon-carrying formation.