Environmental improvements and better economics in EOR operations

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · In Situ; (USA)

OSTI ID:5886791

Taber, J J ^[1]

---

1. New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (USA). New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center

This paper discusses how environmental improvements in EOR technology continues to advance. Successful EOR requires the injection of a fluid which produces incremental oil for the least overall cost. When the net volumetric costs of EOR injection fluids are compared at reservoir conditions, it is clear that only a few liquids or compressed gases can be used to displace crude oil on a barrel for barrel basis. Although high-concentration surfactants have the potential for very efficient displacements, reservoir heterogeneity increases the economic uncertainty of the process, especially at today's oil prices. Water is always the cheapest fluid to inject, even with small amounts of polymer added, and polymer flooding can be cost- effective for new waterfloods. However, polymer flooding is not efficient for displacing tertiary oil. Water converted to steam still accounts for most of the EOR production in the U.S.A., but low oil prices and stricter environmental regulations now restrain large expansions and new projects. Cogeneration of steam and electricity improves the economics markedly for thermal EOR projects, and gas-fired boilers reduce the emissions to the atmosphere. By firing the cogeneration boilers with coal or gas, the more plentiful fossil fuels are converted into much-needed liquid fuels efficiently and economically.

• OSTI ID: 5886791
• Journal Information: In Situ; (USA), Journal Name: In Situ; (USA) Vol. 14:4; ISSN 0019-3267; ISSN ISOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OIL WELLS
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS