A comprehensive study of different EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods) to increase the productivity of existing wells to benefit the Upstream Companies.

1. Petroleum Upstream:
Comparison and Improvement in
Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods,
Commercially Benefiting the Upstream
Industry
Submitted by:
Abhijit BISWAS
SAP ID: 500034917
MBA Oil & Gas Management
Under : Dr. K.K. Pandey

2. Introduction:
 Most of the studies and reviews show that the amount of oil that can be extracted with
primary drive mechanisms is about 20 – 30% and by secondary recovery can reach up
to 40% but using modern enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, recovery can reach
up to 60 – 65%.
 The project is research and experiment based on the advancement in enhanced oil
recovery techniques, it aims reviewing the current used techniques and what are the
advancements in these techniques that results in better production of oil.
 The enhanced oil recovery process can be achieved by many techniques like; (gas
injection, chemical injection, ultrasonic stimulation, microbial injection or thermal
recovery).

3. Availability of better EOR: Comparison of
water injected, direct CO2 injection and WAG
injection:

4. Business Problem:
 The industry is facing the problem of opportunity loss, as of now it is not able to tap the
potential/desired recovery from an oil field.
Explanation of the Business Problem using an example:
 Let us suppose the out 1000 barrels of crude oil available in the well, 60% is
extractable, i.e 600 barrels is being extracted by the company and sold.
 With cost of one barrel is $45 (current price), company earns $27,000.
 With employment of better EOR technique, (let us suppose) 10% more crude oil
extracted, i.e total 700 barrels of crude oil is recovered, thus company earns revenue of
$31,500, a significant increase of $4,500 of the revenue, with no significant increase in
the cost of extraction by employing right EOR technique.
 If no EOR is being is used then the opportunity loss for the petroleum company is
$4,500.

5. Literature Review:
Among the other uncomman techniques used for enhanced oil recovery is “the solvent and
improved gas drive method” this method can be divided into three methods, such as
 Solvent flooding.
 Enriched gas drive.
 High pressure gas drive
Some of the aspects responsible for increasing the recovery factor using carbon dioxide are:
 Promotes swelling.
 Reduces viscosity.
 Decreases oil density.
 Vaporizes and thus extracts portions of oil

6. Some of the aspects responsible for increasing the recovery factor using carbon dioxide are:
 Promotes swelling.
 Reduces viscosity.
 Decreases oil density.
 Vaporizes and thus extracts portions of oil

7. Gap in Literature Review
 As per reading the above literature review following research gap has been identified:
 1. Commercial value of the above discussed Enhanced oil recovery methods have not
been mentioned in detail, even though technical aspects have been discussed.
 2. Moreover, which enhanced recovery should be used when so as to increase the
percentage recovery from the well, which might increase the oil recovery, has not been
discussed

8. Research Objective
 After going through various research papers, the following research objective has been
developed for the dissertation purpose:-
 1. Research objective of the dissertation is to minimize the commercial loss of the
upstream companies by suggesting the best suitable Enhanced Recovery Methods,
which is optimum, so that percentage recovery from the well be increased thus giving
them a higher profitability.
 2. To identify the possible reasons and challenges why petroleum upstream industries
not implementing the latest EOR methods to increase the recovery

9. Research methodology
 The research methodology to be followed has been described here thoroughly:
 Secondary source of data: Literature Review
 Step by step description of the research has been described:
 Step 1: Collection of research papers regarding cost of the existing Enhanced Oil
Recovery methods and latest Enhanced Recovery Methods.
 Step 2: Collection of the research paper which test the efficiency the different EOR
methods.
 Step 3: Details of experiment to compare the efficiency of the EOR and study of
respective geology

10.  Following are the ways to carry out this research: Mentioned in the Literature review.
 1. Por-perm (Porosity - permeability testing device).
 2. RPS 800 (Relative Permeability System)
 Step 4: Collection of the research paper regarding the cost analysis of the different
EOR technique.
 Step 5: “Cost benefit analysis” of the different EOR techniques.
 Step 6: Identifies the best optimal EOR for increased recovery

11.  Primary source of data: Questionnaire from the petroleum experts
 Step 1: Questionnaire for expert opinion from the petroleum experts regarding what
could be the following reasons petroleum upstream companies not implementing the
latest EOR techniques.
 Step 2: Data analysis
 Find the all the possible challenges why the petroleum upstream companies not able to
implement latest EOR techniques to increase the recovery using RM tools like Textual
analysis.
 Textual analysis is a RM tool collect and jot down data from the interview and
questionnaire from the experts and analyzing the viewpoint

12. Proposed Chapter online:
 1. Introduction.
 2. Background.
 3. Literature review
 4. Gap in the literature review.
 5. Business Problem
 6. Research objective

13. References
 Tarek Ahmed, Principles of water flooding chapter 14, Reservoir engineering hand
book: second edition. (2001) p.857-p859
 The California energy commission, Enhanced oil recovery scoping study, 1999
www.energy.ca.gov
 G.C. WATKINS and K. CHANT SHARP, “EOR Retrospect and prospect”, Journal of
Canadian petroleum
 S.M. FAROUQ ALI, S. THOMAS, The Promise and Problems of Enhanced Oil
Recovery Methods, JCPT, 96-07-07, University of Alberta