Enhanced oil recovery
Enhanced Oil Recovery or EOR, also plays a key role in increasing production. It consists in increasing the quantity of oil and gas extracted from a field.
The enhanced oil recovery methods:
- the thermal method uses steam to heat the oil, fluidifying it and facilitating its production,
- the chemical recovery uses viscosifiers and/or surfactants,
- CO2 injection is emerging as an option that could simultaneously increase field recovery and enable carbon dioxide storage as part of the drive to combat climate change.
An important aspect of work being carried out at IFP Energies nouvelles is the modeling of heavy oil recovery by steam injection.
For example, the Hangingstone project, conducted in partnership with CGGVeritas and completed in 2010, demonstrated the possibility of monitoring the evolution of the steam chamber in a heavy oil reservoir using seismic data.
IFP Energies nouvelles also joined forces with Rhodia in 2009 to launch a joint offer in the field of chemical enhanced oil recovery. This partnership led to the signature of two contracts in 2010 relating to the study of chemical EOR pilots with real data, in South America and Europe.
Beicip-Franlab, a subsidiary of IFP Energies nouvelles, is also involved in this offer.
>> Chemical EOR Alliance website: http://ceor-alliance.com
Research conducted at IFP Energies nouvelles also aims to reduce the water footprint of the oil industry, since enhanced recovery uses both water resources and chemical additives. A good knowledge of the physicochemical mechanisms, the products injected and their evolution in porous media is essential for water cycle management.
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"Integrated chemical EOR solutions delivered from the lab to the field" [Rhodia - Beicip Franlab - IFPEN]
(PDF - 1.7 Mo
)
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Water in fuel production - Oil production and refining
(PDF - 1.6 Mo
)
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"Exploration and Production at IFP Energies nouvelles" - 50 years of R&D and international partnership with industry
(PDF - 745 Ko
)
