ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

Methods to Improve Reservoir

Recovery Efficiency
Discovery

Natural
Flow

Artificial
Lift

Conventional
Oil
Recovery

Methods to
Improve
Recovery
Efficiency

Waterflooding &
Enhanced Oil Recovery

Strategic Wellbore
Placement

Production /
Injection Control

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Waterflood

Maintains reservoir
pressure & physically
displaces oil with
water moving through
the reservoir from
injector to producer.

Thermal

Reduces Sorw by steam

distillation and reduces
oil viscosity.

Chemical

Reduces Sorw by
lowering water-oil
interfacial tension, and
increases volumetric
sweep efficiency by
reducing the water-oil
mobility ratio.

Miscible Gas

Reduces Sorw by
developing miscibility
with the oil through a
vaporizing or condensing
gas drive process.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Goal of EOR processes is to mobilize remaining oil
Achieved by enhancing oil displacement &
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
more favorable mobility ratio between injectant &
remaining oil-in-place (e.g., polymer floods, WAG
processes)

Important to identify remaining oil & mechanisms

necessary to improve recovery before implementing
EOR

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Most EOR screening values are approximations

based on successful North American projects. These
are not intended to be firm cut-offs, but rather
approximate practical limitations. They do not take
into account new technology or varying economic
situations.
Dr. Bruce Davis

Waterflooding
Injection
Well

Water
Injection
Pump

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Oil Zone

Injection Water

Production Well

Waterflooding
Description
Most widely used post-primary recovery method
Water injected in patterns or along the periphery
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Water drive
Limitations
High oil viscosities - higher mobility ratios
Heterogeneity such as stratification, permeability
contrast, and fracturing can reduce sweep
efficiency
Challenges
Poor compatibility between injected water &
reservoir may cause formation damage
Subsurface fluid control to divert injected water &
shut off undesirable produced fluids

Waterflooding
Screening Parameters
Gravity

> 25 API

Viscosity
Composition

< 30 cp

Oil saturation
Formation type

> 10% mobile oil

Net thickness
Average permeability
Transmissibility

not critical

Depth
Temperature

not critical

not critical
sandstone / carbonate
not critical (usually >10md)
not critical
not critical

Surfactant/Polymer Flooding
Surfactant
Injection Water
Solution From Well Injection
Pump
Mixing Plant

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Oil Zone

Surfactant

Polymer
Solution

Production Well

Drive Water

Surfactant/Polymer Flooding
Description
Consists of injecting a slug containing water,
surfactant, electrolyte (salt), usually a co-solvent
(alcohol), & possibly a hydrocarbon (oil), followed
by polymer-thickened water
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Interfacial tension reduction (improves
displacement sweep efficiency)
Mobility control (improves volumetric sweep
efficiency)

Surfactant/Polymer Flooding
Limitations
Areal sweep more than 50% for waterflood is desired
Relatively homogeneous formation
High amounts of anhydrite, gypsum, or clays are undesirable
Available systems provide optimum behavior within narrow set of
conditions
With commercially available surfactants, formation water chlorides
should be < 20,000 ppm & divalent ions (Ca ++ & Mg++) < 500 ppm
Challenges
Complex & expensive
Possibility of chromatographic separation of chemicals
High adsorption of surfactant
Interactions between surfactant & polymer
Degradation of chemicals at high temperature

Surfactant/Polymer Flooding
Screening Parameters
Gravity
Viscosity
Composition
Oil saturation
Formation type
Net thickness
Average permeability
Transmissibility
Depth

> 25 API
< 20 cp
light intermediates
> 20% PV
sandstone
> 10 feet
> 20 md
not critical

Temperature

< 8,000 feet

< 225 F

Salinity of formation brine

< 150,000 ppm TDS

Polymer Flooding
Polymer
Injection
Solution From Well
Mixing Plant

Water
Injection
Pump

Oil Zone

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Polymer Solution

Production
Well

Drive Water

Polymer Flooding
Description
Consists of adding water soluble polymers to water before it is injected in reservoir
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Mobility control (improves volumetric sweep efficiency)
Limitations
High oil viscosities require higher polymer concentration
Results normally better if polymer flood started before water-oil ratio becomes
excessively high
Clays increase polymer adsorption
Some heterogeneity is acceptable, but avoid extensive fractures
If fractures are present, crosslinked or gelled polymer techniques may be applicable

Polymer Flooding
Challenges
Lower injectivity than with water can adversely
affect oil production rates in early stages of
polymer flood
Acrylamide-type polymers loose viscosity due to
sheer degradation, or it increases in salinity &
divalent ions
Xanthan gum polymers cost more, are subject to
microbial degradation, & have greater potential for
wellbore plugging

Polymer Flooding
Screening Parameters
Gravity

> 18 API

Viscosity

< 200 cp

Composition

not critical

Oil saturation

> 10% PV mobile oil

Formation type

sandstone / carbonate

Net thickness

not critical

Average permeability

> 20 md

Transmissibility

not critical

Depth

< 9,000 feet

Temperature

< 225 F

Miscible Gas Flooding (CO2 Injection)

CO2
Injection
Well
Injection
From
Pipeline
or Recycle

Water
Injection
Pump

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Waterflood Sor

Oil
Bank/Miscible
Front

Production Well

CO2 and Water

Zone

Drive
Water

Miscible Gas Flooding (CO2 Injection)

Description
Consists of injecting large quantities of CO2 (15%
or more hydrocarbon pore volumes) in reservoir to
form a miscible flood
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
CO2 extracts the light-to-intermediate components
from the oil, and, if pressure is high enough,
develops miscibility to displace oil from reservoir
(vaporizing gas drive)
Viscosity reduction / oil swelling

Miscible Gas Flooding (CO2 Injection)

Limitations
Very low viscosity of CO2 results in poor mobility
control
Availability of CO2
Challenges
Early breakthrough of CO2 causes problems
Corrosion in producing wells
Necessity of separating CO2 from saleable
hydrocarbons
Repressuring CO2 for recycling
Large requirement of CO2 per incremental barrel
produced

Miscible Gas Flooding (CO2 Injection)

Screening Parameters
Gravity

> 27 API

Viscosity

< 10 cp

Composition

C5 - C20 (C5 - C12)

Oil saturation

> 30% PV

Formation type

sandstone / carbonate

Net thickness

relatively thin

Average permeability

not critical

Transmissibility

not critical

Depth

> 2,300 feet

Temperature

< 250 F

Miscible Gas Flooding

(Hydrocarbon Injection)
HC Gas
Injection
From
Pipeline
or Recycle

Injection
Well

Water
Injection
Pump

Waterflood Sor

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Oil Bank /
Miscible Front

Production Well

HC and Water
Zone

Drive
Water

Miscible Gas Flooding

(Hydrocarbon Injection)
Description
Consists of injecting light hydrocarbons through
reservoir to form a miscible flood
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Viscosity reduction / oil swelling / condensing or
vaporizing gas drive

Miscible Gas Flooding

(Hydrocarbon Injection)
Limitations
Minimum depth is set by pressure needed to maintain
generated miscibility
Ranges from about 1,200 psi for LPG process to 3,0005,000 psi for High Pressure Gas Drive, depending on the oil
Steeply dipping formation is very desirable - permits
gravity stabilization of displacement that normally has an
unfavorable mobility ratio
Challenges
Viscous fingering results in poor vertical & horizontal
sweep efficiency
Large quantities of expensive products required
Solvent may be trapped & not recovered

Miscible Gas Flooding

(Hydrocarbon Injection)
Screening Parameters
Gravity

> 27 API

Viscosity
Composition

< 10 cp

Oil saturation
Formation type

> 30% PV

Net thickness
Average permeability

relatively thin

Transmissibility
Depth

not critical

Temperature

> 250F

C2 - C 7
sandstone / carbonate
not critical
> 2,000 feet (LPG)
> 5,000 feet (lean gas)

Nitrogen / Flue Gas Flooding

N2 Gas
Injection
From
Pipeline
or Plant

Injection
Well

Water
Injection
Pump

Waterflood Sor

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Oil Bank/
Miscible Front

Production Well

N2 and
Water Zone

Drive Water

Nitrogen / Flue Gas Flooding

Description
Consists of injecting large quantities of gas that may
be miscible or immiscible depending on pressure & oil
composition
Large volumes may be injected because of low cost
Nitrogen or flue gas are also considered for use as
chase gases in hydrocarbon-miscible & CO 2 floods
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Vaporizes lighter components of crude oil & generates
miscibility if pressure is high enough
Provides gas drive where significant portion of
reservoir volume is filled with low-cost gases

Nitrogen / Flue Gas Flooding

Limitations
Miscibility can only be achieved with light oils at high
pressures; therefore, deep reservoirs are needed
Steeply dipping reservoir is desired to permit gravity
stabilization of displacement, which has a very
unfavorable mobility ratio
Challenges
Viscous fingering results in poor vertical & horizontal
sweep efficiency
Flue gas injection can cause corrosion
Non-hydrocarbon gases must be separated from
saleable gas

Nitrogen / Flue Gas Flooding

Screening Parameters
Gravity
Viscosity
Composition
Oil saturation
Formation type
Net thickness

pressure maintenance)

Average permeability
Transmissibility
Depth
Temperature

> 24 API (> 35 for nitrogen)

< 10 cp
C1 - C 7
> 30% PV
sandstone / carbonate
relatively thin (not critical for
not critical
not critical
> 4,500 feet
not critical

Thermal (Steamflooding)
Stack Gas
Scrubber

Steam
Generator

Injection
Well

Separation and
Storage Facilities

Oil and Water Zone

Near Original Reservoir
Temperature

Heated Oil
Zone

Production Well

Hot Water
Zone

Steam and
Condensed
Water Zone

Thermal (Steamflooding)
Description
Consists of injecting 80% quality steam to displace oil
Normal practice is to precede & accompany steam
drive by cyclic steam stimulation of producing wells
(called huff and puff)
Mechanisms That Improve Recovery Efficiency
Viscosity reduction / steam distillation
Supplies pressure to drive oil to producing well
Challenges
Adverse mobility ratio & channeling of steam

Thermal (Steamflooding)
Limitations
Applicable to viscous oils in massive, high permeability sandstones or
unconsolidated sands
Oil saturations must be high & pay zones should be > 20 ft thick to
minimize heat losses to adjacent formations
Less viscous crude oils can be steamflooded if they dont respond to
water
Steamflooded reservoirs should be as shallow as possible because of
excessive wellbore heat losses
Not normally done in carbonate reservoirs
Since about 1/3 of additional oil recovered is consumed to generate
required steam, cost per incremental barrel of oil is high
Low percentage of water-sensitive clays is desired for good injectivity

Thermal (Steamflooding)
Screening Parameters
Gravity
Viscosity
Composition
Remaining oil
Formation type
Net thickness
Average permeability
Transmissibility
Depth
Temperature

< 35 API (10-35 API)

> 20 cp (100-5,000 cp)
not critical
> 500 bbl / acre-ft (> 4050% PV)
sandstone
> 20 feet
> 200 md
> 100 md ft / cp
> 200-5,000 feet
not critical

Depth Limitation for Enhanced

Oil Recovery Methods
EOR Method

Depth (ft)
4,000
6,000

2,000

8,000

10,000

HydrocarbonMiscible

Deep Enough for Required Pressure

Nitrogen and
Flue Gas

Deep Enough for Required Pressure

CO2 Flooding
Surfactant/
Polymer

Deep Enough for Required Pressure

Limited by Temperature

Polymer

Limited by Temperature

Alkaline

Preferred Zone

Fire Flood
Steam Drive

High
Consumption

Deep Enough for Required Pressure

Normal Range

(Possible)
RREW-4-2-EORMethodsVG1-33

Preferred Oil Viscosity Ranges for

Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods

Oil Viscosity - Centipoise at Reservoir Conditions

EOR Method
HydrocarbonMiscible

0.1

1.0

Very Good

Nitrogen and
Flue Gas
CO2 Flooding

Mining and
Extraction

100,000

1,000,000

More Difficult
Fair

Good

Very
Difficult
Fair

Good
May Not Be Possible
(Can Be Waterflooded)

Special Thermal:
Shafts, Fractures,
Drainholes, etc.

1,000

More Difficult

Good

Alkaline

1000

More Difficult

Very Good
Good

Polymer

Steam Drive

Good

100

Good

Surfactant/
Polymer

Fire Flood

10

Fair

Not Feasible

Difficult
Very
Difficult

Good

Not Feasible

Not Feasible
Not Feasible

Good
Various Techniques Possible

Not
Feasible

No Established Limits
RREW-4-2-EORMethodsVG1-34

Permeability Guides for

Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods
Permeability (millidarcy)
EOR Method

0.1

10

HydrocarbonMiscible

Alkaline
Fire Flood
Steam Drive

10,000

- Not Critical if
Uniform
- High Enough For Good Injection Rates -

Surfactant/
Polymer
Polymer

1000

- Not Critical if
Uniform

Nitrogen and
Flue Gas
CO2 Flooding

100

Preferred Zone
Possible

Preferred Zone
Preferred Zone
Preferred Zone
Preferred Zone
RREW-4-2-EORMethodsVG1-35

Summary of Screening Criteria for

EOR Methods

Thermal

Chemical Flooding

Gas Injection Methods

Oil Properties

N.C. = Not Critical

*Transmissibility >20 md ft/cp
**Transmissibility > 100 md ft/cp

Reservoir Characteristics

R
E
T
S
O
P

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

(LOSF) to Waterflooded Reservoirs
Relatively new variation on more traditional heavy
oil steam flooding EOR technique
Mechanisms in LOSF similar to traditional
steamflooding:
- Viscosity reduction For given temperature rise,
the viscosity decrease for more viscous heavy oil
is much more significant than in lighter oils
- Swelling The thermal expansion of light oils is
greater than that for heavy oils
- Stripping of light ends Since more lighter
components are present in the light oils, potential
benefits from development of condensate zones is
more significant in light oils than in heavy oils

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

to Waterflooded Reservoirs

Effect of oil gravity on

viscosity reduction
with temperature

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

to Waterflooded Reservoirs

Swelling effect is shown where

heavier oil (60 lb/cu.ft) has
significantly less swelling
potential than a lighter oil (55
lb/cu.ft)

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

to Waterflooded Reservoirs
Distillation (or stripping of light ends) is more
pronounced in lighter oils than in heavier
This makes creation of a condensate volume with
solvent properties much more likely in lighter oils

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

to Waterflooded Reservoirs
Waterflooding in light oil reservoirs generally
produces good recovery efficiency
- Pockets of oil bypassed because of oil trapping in lower
permeability regions through capillary mechanisms

Water is immiscible with oil & will cause a significant

residual oil saturation (25-35%) even in the water
swept parts of reservoir
LOSF can reduce residual oil saturation in
waterflood swept portions since steam acts more like
a gas & leaves more of a residual oil saturation to gas
rather than to water
- This gas (steam) residual can be significantly lower than
for water

Applications of Light Oil Steam Flooding

to Waterflooded Reservoirs
LOSF has second potential benefit from the generation of
a condensate/solvent zone
- This condensate/solvent can have miscible
characteristics which allow it to extract residual oil
from low porosity / low permeability regions of
reservoir which were bypassed by water injection
Offsetting the LOSF benefits
- Concerns for initiating a relative high cost thermal
process in a reservoir where waterflooding has
reduced the remaining oil-in-place & left a high water
saturation which can be an additional heat loss issue
Careful attention must be paid to economic
considerations and understanding the risks for LOSF in a
reservoir