Modified waterfloods can improve ultimate recovery

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1969 · World Oil; (United States)

OSTI ID:5377029

Holm, L W

Four methods are given for modifying a waterflood to obtain additional oil recovery. Basic considerations and reservoir characteristics are listed for application of LPG, CO/sub 2/, polymer, and soluble oil flooding. All of these methods have been field-tested and some are currently in operation. All of these processes have in common the injection of a slug of material ahead of an ordinary waterflood to improve oil recovery. They all involve reduction of capillary retention forces of oil in the reservoir rock, improvement of mobility ratio of the water-oil displacement, or both. Miscible displacement with LPG gas will have limited application due to unfavorable mobility ratios involved and the large amounts of solvents required. Slug flooding with CO/sub 2/ can improve recovery appreciably when reservoir pressures are at least 900 psi and where CO/sub 2/ is available in large quantities. Polymer flooding is promising for increasing secondary oil recovery when oil viscosities are above 10 cp or in reservoirs with excessive permeability variations. Soluble oil flooding will reduce oil saturations in a reservoir below that obtainable by waterflooding or other immiscible displacement methods. (10 refs.)

• Research Organization: Union Oil Co., CA
• OSTI ID: 5377029
• Journal Information: World Oil; (United States), Journal Name: World Oil; (United States) Vol. 169:5; ISSN WOOIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
LIQUIDS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MODIFICATIONS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
STIMULATION
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS