Applications of EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) Technology in Field Projects: Project BE2, Milestone 3, FY 88: Topical Report.

摘要

Trends in the type and number of US enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects are analyzed for the period from 1981 to 1988. The analysis is based on current literature and news media and the Department of Energy (DOE) EOR Project Database which contains information on almost 1300 projects. The most obvious trend is the steady decline in the number of project starts each year since 1981, which corresponds to the steady oil price decline during that period. The number of new projects started during the past year (mid-1987 to mid-1988) is leveling indicating project starts could have bottomed. Another trend is toward lower risk projects for which reservoir characteristics are the same as those of earlier successful projects. Despite the general lack of enthusiasm for EOR, several innovative techniques such as oil gravity mining, horizontal/slant well drilling, and microbial flooding are still being tried. Despite the temporary setback, long-term EOR prospects remain good, principally because EOR is one of the major sources of new oil reserves and could play a key role in the drive to maintain oil production through the year 2000. 11 refs., 9 figs., 14 tabs. (ERA citation 14:007304)