Recent Developments and Updated Screening Criteria of Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques

TLDR

EOR criteria were originally developed in 1996 based on field applications reported in Oil & Gas Journal and at various SPE conferences. This paper reviews recent developments in enhanced oil recovery techniques published in SPE conference proceedings from 2007 to 2009 and updates the EOR criteria developed by Taber et al. The authors classify EOR methods into five categories—gas‑based, water‑based, thermal, others, and combination technologies—and summarize new developments in techniques, chemicals, and mechanisms to clarify advances beyond previous limitations. The updated screening criteria identify reservoirs previously ruled out as viable candidates, and the paper provides guidelines for selecting and optimizing chemical EOR methods for specific reservoirs.

Abstract

Abstract This paper reviews recent developments in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques published in SPE conference proceedings for 2007 to 2009. It also updates the EOR criteria developed by Taber et al. in 1996 based on field applications reported in Oil & Gas Journal and at various SPE conferences. It classifies EOR methods into five main categories: gas-based, water-based, thermal, others, and combination technologies. New developments in EOR techniques, chemicals, and mechanisms are summarized to clarify advances in EOR criteria beyond previous limitations. Reservoirs that had previously been ruled out based on specific reservoir conditions are now candidates under updated EOR screening criteria. To demonstrate this potential, this work has established guidelines for the selection and optimization of chemical EOR methods for a specific reservoir.