EORteknikker

EORteknikker refers to Enhanced Oil Recovery techniques, a set of methods used in the petroleum industry to increase the amount of crude oil extracted from a reservoir beyond what can be recovered by primary and secondary recovery methods. Primary recovery utilizes the natural pressure within the reservoir to push oil to the surface. Secondary recovery typically involves injecting water or gas to maintain reservoir pressure and sweep oil towards production wells. When these methods become inefficient, EORteknikker are employed.

These techniques are broadly categorized into three main types: thermal, gas injection, and chemical. Thermal EOR methods, such as steam injection and in-situ combustion, reduce the viscosity of heavy oil, making it flow more easily. Gas injection EOR involves injecting gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or natural gas into the reservoir. These gases can mix with the oil, reducing its viscosity and expanding its volume, or they can act as a miscible solvent, dissolving in the oil and lowering its interfacial tension. Chemical EOR methods utilize the injection of chemicals like polymers, surfactants, or alkaline substances. Polymers increase the viscosity of injected water, improving sweep efficiency. Surfactants reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, allowing trapped oil droplets to be mobilized. Alkaline flooding can generate surfactants in-situ, especially when reacting with acidic components in the crude oil. The selection of EORteknikker depends on various factors including reservoir characteristics, fluid properties, economic viability, and environmental considerations.