Chapter 1.

Introduction to EOR Processes

Aug 22, 2012

Outline
Oil Recovery Mechanisms Definition of EOR Goal of EOR EOR and IOR EOR Targets Reserve EOR methods

Oil Recovery Mechanisms

Primary Recovery Natural Flow Secondary Recovery Waterflood Pressure Maintenance
Water - Gas Reinjection

Artificial Lift
Pump - Gas Lift - Etc.

Conventional Recovery

Tertiary Recovery Thermal Solvent Chemical Other Fig.1-1. Oil recovery methods
Source: Adapted from the Oil & Gas Journal, Apr. 23, 1990

Enhanced Recovery

Definition of EOR (Tertiary Recovery)

Oil Recovery by the injection of materials not normally present in reservoir. Excludes conventional water flooding. The injected fluids and injection processes supplement the natural energy present in the reservoir to displace oil to a production well. The injected fluids interact with the reservoir rock/oil system to create conditions favorable for oil recovery The interactions are attributable to physical and chemical mechanisms and to the injection or production of thermal energy. Not necessary tertiary stage

EOR Goal: to mobilize remaining oil

The above objective is achieved by enhancing oil displacement and volumetric sweep efficiencies. Oil displacement efficiency is improved by reducing oil viscosity (e.g., thermal floods) or by reducing capillary forces or interfacial tension (e.g., miscible floods). Volumetric sweep efficiency is improved by developing a more favorable mobility ratio between the injectant and the remaining oil-in place (e.g., polymer floods, WAG processes). It is important to identify remaining oil and mechanisms that are necessary to improve recovery before implementing EOR.

EOR and IOR

In the last decade, improved oil recovery (IOR) has been used interchangeably with EOR or even in place of it. Although there is no formal definition, IOR typically refers to any process or practice that improves oil recovery. IOR therefore includes EOR processes but can also include other practices such as waterflooding, pressure maintenance, infill drilling, and horizontal wells.

EOR Targets
Original Oil in Place in USA: 649 Billion Barrels

Fig. 1-3

EOR Targets

Figure 1-4. Box plots of ultimate oil recovery efficiency. 75% of the ultimate recoveries in a region fall within the vertical boxes; the median recovery is the horizontal line in the box; the vertical lines give the range. Ultimate recovery is highly variable, but the median is about the same everywhere (from Laherre, 2001).

The Four Key Issues to be Resolved to Maximize Oil Recovery

Mobility Control Technologies

Producer

Injector

Problem: water flooding of oil with higher viscosity results in a poor displacement efficiency due to fingering. Objective: Increase the sweep efficiency by reducing the mobility of the injected fluid in a cost-effective way. Projects Competed: Polymer flooding and Foam flooding.

Surfactant, Surfactant-Polymer, ASP Flooding

Water flooded area Unflooded area

Problem: Residual oil left after waterflood.

Water

Objective: Reduce residual oil saturation by reducing interfacial tension (IFT).

Projects Compeleted: Surfactant-Alkali flooding for Missouri Heavy Oil Surfactant-Polymer flooding for Daqing oilfield

Wettability Alteration System

Problem: Most carbonate reservoirs are considered oil-wet which prevents water to penetrate into matrix Objective: Improve water imbibition Methods: using surfactant to change wettability

Matrix

Projects: Surfactant spontaneous imbibition for carbonate reservoirs Forced imbibition for sandstone reservoirs

Conformance Control

Problem: Oil recovery from low K layers is hampered Objective: Inject blocking agents to block/reduce water flow in high K zone. Methods: Gel treatment is the principle method to control Projects: More than 10 projects related to gel development and evaluation, numerical simulation and field applications

Reserves
Reserve: Recoverable petroleum from known reservoirs under prevailing economics with existing technology

Categories Proved (90% certain) Probable (50%) Possible (10%)

Present Reserves
Present reserves = Previous reserves Production + Additions
Reserves Additions Discovery of new fields Discovery of new reservoirs in known fields Extensions of known fields Redefinition of reserves because of o Economics o Extraction technology

The Argument for EOR

Requires discovery of giant fields (100 MM bbls in place) Drilling alone
Requires large capital investment Drilling rate inversely correlated with finding rate

The Argument for EOR (cont.)

EOR applies to known reservoirs

No need to find them

Some infrastructure in place

Markets available
Technology is mature and cost effective

65% of oil remains after secondary recovery

EOR Methods

Fig.1-2. EOR methods

Thermal Methods
Steamflooding,
Cyclic steam stimulation

In situ combustion.

GAS MISCIBLE RECOVERY

Miscible Recovery Carbon Dioxide Flooding Cyclic Carbon Dioxide Stimulation Nitrogen Flooding Nitrogen CO2 Flooding

Chemicals Recovery Methods

Chemical recovery methods include
Conformance Control polymer, micellar-polymer and alkaline flooding.

Conformance Control

Problem: Oil recovery from low K layers is hampered because the main water flows through the high K layer. (more than 60% remaining oil is still remained in unswept area) Objective: Inject blocking agents to block/reduce water flow in high permeability zone. Methods: Gel treatment is the principle method to control conformance for water flood reservoirs.

MEOR
Microbial Flooding Cyclic Microbial Recovery

Summary
Oil Recovery Mechanisms Definition of EOR Goal of EOR EOR and IOR EOR Targets Reserve EOR methods

Depletion DriveSolution Gas Drive

 Gas Cap Drive

Expansion of the gas-cap

gas Expansion of the solution gas as it is liberated

Water Drive

Gravity Drainage

Combination drive