Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques: Review

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes are implemented to increase the ability of oil to flow to a well by injecting water, chemicals, or gases into the reservoir or by changing the physical properties of the oil. The ultimate objective is to produce additional amounts of oil left behind after primary and secondary production. EOR processes include thermal, chemical, and miscible methods. EOR processes are designed to recover oil left after primary and secondary recoveries by improving oil displacement efficiency, and volumetric sweep efficiency. EOR methods often require significant investment of capital and are generally associated with risks. The reservoirs that are prime candidates for EOR include heavy oil reservoirs, unconventional reservoirs, and heterogeneous reservoirs. This article provides the review on recent EOR methods.

Keywords:

Enhanced oil recovery , TEOR , CEOR , GEOR