First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics

• In all oil fields, oil is left behind after primary (oil production using reservoir energy) and secondary (oil displacement with water) operations.

• The amount of remaining oil ranges between 30% to 90%+

• The industry has long attempted to access these large, residual volumes. However, to do so requires changing the properties of the oil, so it will flow to producing wells

• The primary methods of doing this are:

• Thermal-add heat to oil to make it less viscous so it flows easier through the formation
• Hydrocarbon injection-the injectant either acts like a solvent and “dissolves” the oil or combines with it in such a way to make it flow easier
• CO2 flooding-this works by either displacing oil or combining with it in such a way to make it flow easier
• Chemical flooding-the recovery enhancement mechanisms are similar to CO2 in that the slug of chemically enhance water, either acts like a piston and pushes oil ahead of it as it moves through the formation, or it combines with the oil to chemically alter it to make it flow easier