enhanced oil recovery
technology
Also known as: EOR
Quick Summary
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) refers to technologies used to increase the amount of crude oil extracted from a well, especially from reservoirs that are nearly exhausted. These methods are often called "tertiary recovery" because they are applied after primary and secondary recovery techniques like waterflooding.12
EOR technologies aim to overcome challenges such as viscous oil that doesn't flow easily or oil left behind by water injection. Some common EOR methods include:2
- Miscible methods: Injecting natural gas or carbon dioxide (CO2) under high pressure to mix with the oil, reducing its viscosity and allowing it to flow more freely.2
- Thermal methods: Injecting steam or using in situ combustion to heat the reservoir. Heat significantly reduces the viscosity of heavy crude oils, making them easier to produce.2
- Surfactant flooding: Introducing soap-like materials to lower the surface tension between injected fluids and the oil, effectively "scrubbing" the oil from the rock.2
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