Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, 3rd Edition

Chapter 11. Enhanced Oil Recovery

11.1 Introduction

The initial production of hydrocarbons from an oil-bearing formation is accomplished by the use of natural reservoir energy. As discussed in Chapter 1, this type of production is termed primary production. Sources of natural reservoir energy that lead to primary production include the swelling of reservoir fluids, the release of solution gas as the reservoir pressure declines, nearby communicating aquifers, and gravity drainage. When the natural reservoir energy has been depleted, it becomes necessary to augment the natural energy from an external source. The Society of Petroleum Engineers has defined the term enhanced oil recovery (EOR) as the following: “one or more of a variety of processes ...