Effecting a Pneumatic Operated Assembly, for an Improved Oil Recovery IOR, in Onshore Wells

Abstract

As hydrocarbon formation continues, owing to its natural sourcing, technologies have continually emerged on how these hydrocarbons can be effectively produced at a commercial benchmark. Asides its natural drive system, the enhanced oil recovery methods have been one key approach that has been effected towards increasing hydrocarbon's production rate, from its reservoirs. The natural reservoir energy has allowed for about 10% production of original oil in place. And, extending a field's productive life by employing the secondary recovery has further improved production to 20 to 40%, with EOR amounting to about 30 to 60% production. This however, would tell of the impending need towards further developments on increasing upon this production rate. Hence, the approach on using a pneumatic operated assembly with considerations made on onshore wells. This paper seeks to depict a focal on "Pneumatic IOR (Improved Oil Recovery)" as a method to be effected for onshore wells towards improving its productivity. The pneumatic system uses compressed air, contained in a cylinder - through specialized tubing, alongside pressure control systems, that helps regulate the flow and amount of the compressed air; to propel a metallic bar that will act on the reservoir surface. A force of impact, which will induce vibrations inwards, is generated. The mechanical motion of the metal bars for which this compressed air acts upon will provide the travel force, which when it acts on the reservoir surface of interest, will induce geologic stresses. This stresses and vibrations are important constituents in increasing pressure, downhole. Thereby, enabling fluid flow upwards through the wellbore to the surface. And, this will proffer the necessary physics, needed for pressure development downhole, which will be of importance in improving Oil Recovery.