Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Screening Criteria: at a Glance

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are crucial for extracting additional oil from reservoirs after primary and secondary recovery stages. This paper focuses on the screening criteria employed in the decision-making process for selecting appropriate EOR methods. The screening criteria are classified into three main categories: conventional screening, geologic screening, and advanced screening. Conventional screening involves comparing average reservoir properties with predefined validity limits to determine the suitability of a recovery process. Geologic screening takes into account detailed information on reservoir geology, such as heterogeneity and connectivity, to assess the controls on EOR processes. Advanced screening utilizes data mining, artificial intelligence techniques, and multidimensional maps to consider multiple reservoir and fluid properties simultaneously. The paper also provides a comprehensive classification of EOR methods, including gas methods, waterflooding methods, and thermal methods. Various screening criteria techniques are discussed, which are based on reservoir parameters and physics of each EOR process. The importance of decision enablers, such as influence diagrams, in framing the decision-making process is highlighted. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for rational decision making, the role of decision makers in committing resources, and the selection of quantifiable objective functions for effective EOR method selection. Given the rising oil prices and concerns about future supplies, the application of screening criteria to identify suitable EOR methods becomes crucial for maximizing oil recovery and addressing the challenges faced by oil companies and authorities.