EOR Screening Criteria Revisited— Part 1: Introduction to Screening Criteria and Enhanced Recovery Field Projects

TLDR

Screening criteria have been proposed for all enhanced oil recovery methods, and the current state of the art and inter‑method relationships are briefly described. The screening criteria are derived from field results and oil‑recovery mechanisms. Analysis of global EOR projects shows steamflooding remains dominant, chemical flooding is declining yet polymers and gels still improve sweep, CO₂ flooding is rising, and optimum reservoir and oil‑gravity characteristics have been identified and graphically presented.

Abstract

Summary Screening criteria have been proposed for all enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. Data from EOR projects around the world have been examined and the optimum reservoir/oil characteristics for successful projects have been noted. The oil gravity ranges of the oils of current EOR methods have been compiled and the results are presented graphically. The proposed screening criteria are based on both field results and oil recovery mechanisms. The current state of the art for all methods is presented briefly, and relationships between them are described. Steamflooding is still the dominant EOR method. All chemical flooding has been declining, but polymers and gels are being used successfully for sweep improvement and water shutoff. Only CO2 flooding activity has increased continuously.