INVESTIGATING PHYSICAL PROCESSES IMPACTING ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

Abstract

As the demand for energy continues to rise, it becomes increasingly crucial to identify effective methods for recovering oil resources that remain after initial production. This underscores the significance of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) research. EOR techniques play a vital role in optimizing hydrocarbon extraction from aging reservoirs; however, the efficacy of these techniques is frequently compromised by inconsistencies arising from laboratory studies. Such inconsistencies can be attributed to various factors, including rock preparation methods, temperature, pressure, and experimental protocols and reliance on the capillary number. In this investigation, the effect of pressure, viscosity, and interfacial tension (IFT) was investigated, and an experimental analysis to compare two commonly employed injection methods—constant rate injection and constant pressure injection—to assess their respective effects on recovery results was conducted. Our results reveal significant differences in recovery efficiency between these two approaches, highlighting the need for optimization of EOR protocols tailored to specific reservoir conditions. This research emphasizes the necessity of standardized rock preparation techniques and the judicious selection of injection methods to enhance the precision and efficacy of EOR applications.