Recovery efficiencies, reserves, and EOR potential of Colorado's largest oil reservoirs

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Miner. Energy Resour.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5332261

Wu, C H; Forrest, J K

Colorado's 18 largest oil reservoirs were selected for this study to evaluate their oil recovery efficiencies, reserves, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potentials. The projected total recovery efficiency was estimated for the 18 oil reservoirs, including primary and secondary oil. It ranged between 23.9 and 52 percent of original oil in place (OOIP) with a mean of 41 percent. The primary recovery efficiency ranged between 21 and 35 percent of OOIP with a mean of 25 percent. The incremental secondary recovery efficiency ranged between 2.7 and 27.3 percent of OOIP with a mean of 13 percent. Correlative equations were developed to represent these recovery efficiencies as a function of reservoir properties: initial oil saturation, porosity, depth, thickness, API gravity, permeability, and oil viscosity. Assuming the estimated original oil in place (OOIP) in Colorado is 4,100 X 10/sup 6/ STB (stock tank barrels) and assuming the recovery efficiencies of the 18 reservoirs also apply to the rest of Colorado's oil reservoirs, the target oil for EOR was estimated to be 2,317 X 10/sup 6/ STB. The technical EOR potential was estimated to be between 69 X 10/sup 6/ and 994 X 10/sup 6/ STB with an average of 532 X 10/sup 6/ STB. The estimated total EOR potential should be discounted by a factor commensurate with considerations on the timing and economics of EOR application. A set of screening criteria was used to select favorable EOR process(es) for the 18 reservoirs. Favorable processes included CO/sub 2/ flooding, polymer flooding, surfactant flooding, and caustic flooding. Thermal recovery methods were disfavored because of depth and residual oil saturation limitations.

• Research Organization: Texas A. and M. Univ.
• OSTI ID: 5332261
• Journal Information: Miner. Energy Resour.; (United States), Journal Name: Miner. Energy Resour.; (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN MENRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COLORADO
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLOITATION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
USA
WELLS