Review of Surfactant Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbonate Reservoirs

James J. Sheng

Abstract


About half of proven conventional oil reserves are in carbonate reservoirs. Due to complex structures, formation heterogeneities and oil-wet/mixed wet conditions, etc., the oil recovery factor in carbonate reservoirs is very low. There is increasing interest in improve oil recovery using surfactants, as the surfactant EOR has the potential after other EOR methods have been tried.
This paper reviews the models of wettability alteration using surfactants and upscaling models related to oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs. Chemicals used in carbonate reservoirs are reviewed. The field cases where surfactants were used to stimulate oil recovery are analyzed.

Key words: Enhanced oil recovery; Carbonate reservoirs; Wettability alteration; Chemical EOR


Keywords


Enhanced oil recovery; Carbonate reservoirs; Wettability alteration; Chemical EOR

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.aped.1925543820130601.1582

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