How can you navigate enhanced oil recovery in the current market?

1 Assess the potential

Before investing in any EOR project, you need to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of applying EOR methods to your reservoir. This involves analyzing the reservoir characteristics, such as porosity, permeability, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, and heterogeneity, as well as the production history, decline curve, and recovery factor. You also need to estimate the incremental oil production, the capital and operational expenditures, the break-even price, and the return on investment. You can use various tools, such as reservoir simulation models, decline curve analysis, probabilistic methods, and sensitivity analysis, to perform these assessments.

2 Choose the right method

There are three main categories of EOR methods: thermal, chemical, and miscible. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the reservoir conditions, the oil properties, and the operational constraints. Thermal methods use heat to reduce the viscosity and increase the mobility of heavy oil. Chemical methods use substances, such as polymers, surfactants, or alkaline agents, to alter the interfacial tension, viscosity, or wettability of the oil-water system. Miscible methods use gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or hydrocarbons, to create a single phase with the oil and enhance its displacement. You need to select the method that best suits your reservoir and your objectives, taking into account the availability, cost, and environmental impact of the EOR agents.

3 Optimize the design

Once you have chosen the EOR method, you need to optimize the design of the EOR project, such as the number, location, and type of injection and production wells, the injection rate and pressure, the injection pattern and sequence, the EOR agent concentration and composition, and the monitoring and control systems. You need to balance the trade-offs between maximizing the oil recovery and minimizing the costs and risks. You can use optimization techniques, such as experimental design, response surface methodology, genetic algorithms, or artificial neural networks, to find the optimal design parameters.

4 Monitor the performance

After implementing the EOR project, you need to monitor the performance and evaluate the results. You need to collect and analyze data from various sources, such as well tests, production logs, tracer tests, reservoir pressure measurements, seismic surveys, and core samples. You need to compare the actual performance with the expected performance, identify any deviations or anomalies, and determine the causes and effects of these deviations. You also need to update your reservoir models and forecasts based on the new data and information.

5 Adjust the strategy

Based on the performance monitoring and evaluation, you need to adjust your EOR strategy and make any necessary changes or improvements. You may need to modify the injection rate, pressure, or pattern, change the EOR agent concentration or composition, add or relocate wells, or implement new technologies or methods. You may also need to revise your economic analysis and expectations, taking into account the market fluctuations, the operational challenges, and the environmental regulations. You need to be flexible and adaptable to the changing conditions and opportunities.

6 Learn from the experience

Finally, you need to learn from your EOR experience and apply the lessons learned to your future projects. You need to document and share your best practices, successes, and failures, as well as the challenges and solutions you encountered. You need to review and update your knowledge and skills, as well as the tools and technologies you used. You need to network and collaborate with other EOR professionals and stakeholders, and exchange ideas and feedback. You need to keep abreast of the latest developments and innovations in EOR, and explore new possibilities and opportunities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?