Experimental study of electromagnetic waves affects on enhanced oil recovery

Abstract

The heating of crude oil by using electromagnetic waves can enhanced the recovery of crude oil due to reduction in its viscosity and assisting in its movement. This paper describes effect of electromagnetic waves on oil recovery by using curve twin dipole antenna with four magnetic feeders in the radio frequency region. Two similar core rock samples were use in this study. The porosity and permeability of the core samples were measured by using Poroperm System. Oil saturated core rock samples were kept in tank filled with brine of 10000ppm salinity for efficient oil recovery. These core rock samples were kept at room temperature and 55°C with and without electromagnetic waves. The EM waves emitted by the curve twin antenna with 4 magnetic feeders were able to recover 10.60% of OOIP at room temperature and 29.28% of OOIP at 55°C. Core rock samples without electromagnetic waves give oil recoveries 7.66% of OOIP at room temperature and 23.15% of OOIP at 55°C.