An Article on Tertiary/Enhanced oil Recovery Techniques for the MUGA magazine

Basic Principles and Theories of Tertiary/Enhanced oil Recovery (EOR) Techniques

Wycliff Kawule, 2011
M. Eng. Sci. In Petroleum Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW)-2012, BSc. Geology &
Chemistry, Makerere University. C/o Department of Geology & Petroleum Studies, Makerere University.
wkawule@cns.mak.ac.ug. Article submitted in August, 2011 to the Editors of Makerere University
Geology Association (MUGA) Magazine.

General overview
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) constitutes the tertiary oil recovery phase; subsequent to oil recovery by
primary and secondary mechanisms. It is synonymous with enhanced gas recovery (EGR), which applies
to gas recovery after primary and secondary gas recovery. This particular article focuses on EOR. EOR
methods are mainly aimed at recovering residual oil. The produced oil is referred to as incremental oil
and enables oil companies to earn additional revenues from mature or partially mature oilfields.
In the life history of conventional oilfields, primary recovery takes advantage of the reservoirs natural
energy sources such as gas cap expansion, water influx and solution gas expansion. This energy
diminishes with time as the reservoir is produced; eventually reaching what is referred to as primary
depletion. At this point, relevant evaluations are performed including determining the viability of
continuing with the production under other mechanisms. If deemed profitable, secondary recovery
techniques are implemented through gas or water injection, with the aim of rejuvenating the reservoirs
energy. However, since the combined oil recovery from primary and secondary phases is just a small
fraction of the original oil in place (OOIP), EOR methods are applied to recover some of the remaining
oil. In certain instances EOR is conducted immediately after primary depletion. Studies indicate that EOR
methods can recover an additional 15-20% of OOIP.
The EOR methods applied help to mobilize oil trapped within reservoir pore spaces by capillary
attraction. Such methods also facilitated the displacement of previously bypassed oil, and ultimately
improve the mobility of oil through the reservoir towards the production well(s). EOR techniques are
categorized into three broad groups, namely, solvent gas, thermal and chemical methods. Each of these
categories consists of various EOR methods that are applied under different scenarios. The choice of a
given method is dictated by a number of factors including type of reservoir (carbonate or sandstone);
reservoir depth, temperature and pressure; oil and reservoir rock properties, but most importantly, the
economic viability of the project. Accordingly, before any EOR project is implemented, the reservoir in
consideration has to be screened to determine the method that is capable of providing the most
efficient and economically favorable oil recovery.
Application of the various EOR techniques
The solvent gas category is made up of the following methods: CO2 miscible, CO2 immiscible,
hydrocarbon miscible, flue gas miscible and flue gas immiscible. When miscible methods are used, for

An Article on Tertiary/Enhanced oil Recovery Techniques for the MUGA magazine

example, CO2 flooding, the gas dissolves in the oil thereby reducing its viscosity. As a result, the mobility
of oil towards the production well(s) improves. Miscible methods are generally used to recover light oil
(about >20 oAPI gravity) in deep reservoirs. The reservoir must be located at great depth so that its
pressure is sufficiently above the minimum miscible pressure (MMP) to guarantee miscibility between
CO2 and oil. If the reservoir is at shallow depth, immiscible methods can be considered, provided that
the other criteria are fully complied with.
The thermal category is made up of several methods, but steam flooding and in-situ combustion are the
commonly applied techniques. These methods are usually targeted at heavy oil (about <20 oAPI gravity).
Oil recovery by thermal methods is attributed to oil expansion and reduction of oil viscosity, once its
temperature has been increased. As oil expands, it drifts towards the production well. Both steam
flooding and in-situ combustion are used as heat sources to raise the temperature of reservoir oil. Also,
condensed water from steam can help drive oil towards the production well(s).
Chemical methods are rarely employed due to the high cost of chemicals. But when applied, they help
to improve oil mobility. For example, polymer flooding which is one of the techniques under this
category involves adding polymers to water before it is injected into the reservoir. Water is less viscous
and more mobile compared to oil. Therefore, when injected in its original form it drifts past oil resulting
in early breakthrough and poor oil recovery. However, when a suitable polymer is added to water, its
viscosity increases and mobility reduces. This significantly reduces oil by-passing and results into better
sweep and displacement efficiencies. Another EOR method under the chemical category is use of
surfactants. Surfactants are surface active compounds used to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT)
between two immiscible fluid phases. Oil and water are typical examples of such fluids. The weakening
of the IFT reduces capillary trapping. As a result, the formerly trapped oil gets mobilized, displaced
towards the production well and eventually recovered. Prior to the implementation of any of the
aforementioned methods, the reservoir must be subjected to thorough screening.
After all is said and done, one should be asking which EOR method would be appropriate in Ugandas
case. It is a little too early to answer such a question because EOR methods are ideally meant for mature
oilfields; where production by primary and secondary mechanisms is on a decline. What we have been
told is that many of Ugandas oilfields are at the stage of development, while others are still under
exploration. However, basing on widespread reports that describe Ugandas oil as waxy, one can
confidently predict the implementation of thermal methods during the early stages of production, just
as it is the case for Canadas oil sands and other fields where heavy oil is being exploited.
Finally, one also needs information about the expected ultimate oil recovery after primary and
secondary production. Such information is required to estimate the oil recovery factor, which can be
used to determine how much of the reserves would be remaining, and whether they would be adequate
to warrant investing in a costly EOR venture. We should not forget that the oil companies are lured into
the implementation of EOR projects (on mature oilfields) by the additional revenues earned from
incremental oil. Therefore, the residual oil must exist in substantial quantities and the projected oil
revenue must be significantly attractive to offset both CAPEX and OPEX, under the prevailing market
conditions.