Technology Focus: EOR Operations (June 2024)

With 2024 marking the 75th anniversary of JPT, several articles published earlier this year in the magazine reflected on how our industry has evolved over the last 25 years thanks to technology breakthroughs and entrepreneurial mindsets. Some of the fields that came into production at the turn of the century are now potential candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and current oil price levels ought to make more EOR projects economically attractive. The EOR scene has evolved as well. Low-salinity waterflooding, originally thought to apply only in certain sandstone reservoirs, appears to be able to unlock additional reserves also for some carbonate formations, although the fundamental mechanisms are different. Within chemical EOR, we now have polymers and surfactants that can tolerate higher salinity and higher temperatures. Clear synergistic effects exist with low-salinity water, which can lower the required dosage of polymer and reduce adsorption in carbonates. Advancement in chemical formulations also can benefit mobility control in gasflooding applications through foam generation, with apparent synergistic effects when adding nanoparticles. There is no shortage of human ingenuity, and people are seeking inspiration from other industries such as biotech, nanotech, aerospace, and others. Yet, despite these advancements, many factors, such as suboptimal well placement, inadequate completion for inflow control, aging facilities, and the lower cost of infill drilling, can dampen the initial enthusiasm toward EOR. This is most certainly the case in an offshore environment where we have yet to see CO2 injection beyond the piloting phase. I remain optimistic that EOR has a role to play in maintaining the supply of hydrocarbons during the energy diversification era that we have just entered. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 214825 Using Natural Gas Liquid for EOR in a Huff‘N’Puff Process: A Feasibility Study by Amin Alinejad, University of Alberta, et al. SPE 216582 Alkali Polymer Flooding: Tackling Risks and Challenges From Feasibility Study to Pilot by A. Janczak, OMV, et al. IPTC 24484 Comprehensive Piloting Strategy To Derisk First CO2 EOR Development in Sultanate of Oman by Ramez Nasralla, Petroleum Development Oman OTC 34911 Pilot Tests of Steamflooding After Cyclic Steam‑N2‑CO2 Stimulation in Bohai Offshore With Large Well Spacing by Dong Liu, CNOOC, et al.