Abstract The main objective of this work is to shed light on the mechanism of modeling crossed-linked polymer (CLP) technology, by incorporating real field pilot injection and production data in the Dina Cretaceous field located in the Upper Magdalena Valley (UMV) Basin in Colombia. The paper will highlight why original simulation model predictions differ from the actual observed field data and the predictability of numerical simulation of CEOR process would be discussed and presented. Despite successful application and positive field results in the literature, the propagation of CLP system in porous media has been challenged with conflicting opinions and reports and still remains debatable and uncertain. This paper will use recent experimental laboratory data in conjunction with actual field data to properly explain the possible mechanism of CLP and offer practical modeling techniques to capture experimental and field data. Therefore a modeling methodology was developed and used to model the field data, this method is based on previous modeling mechanisms with incorporating a new grid-based residual resistance factor (RRF) and pore throat sizes. The model requires a proper understanding of rock typing and populate the permeability distribution based on pore throat sizes. The new modeling mechanism was able to reasonably predict the pilot performance in some of the offset producers. To model delayed viscosification and adsorption of the CLP process, two approaches has been evaluated and used in the original simulation model, the use of multiple regions and chemical reaction. The chemical reaction rate is tuned to calibrate laboratory data and to model the delayed viscosification and RRF. However recent laboratory experiments explained the possible mechanisms of CLP formation through intra-molecular crosslinking and intra-inter-molecular crosslinking. In conclusion, because of extensive and numerous laboratory experiments and the conduct of field pilot results, proposed numerical modeling demonstrate the complexity of modeling the CLP system and offers a practical solution to the field applications.