An engineering-economic evaluation of enhanced recovery of saudi crudes by chemical flooding

An approach for economic evaluation of crude oil displacement by chemical solutions (surfactant and/or alkaline) was developed. The approach developed is based on a probability distribution of escalating prices of oil, chemicals, polymers and brine, operating and capital costs. Experimental data from an actually existing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) study of Safaniyah oil field using surfactant solution as chemical were used to assess the validity of the proposed approach. The optimum surfactant slug size for the displacement process under test conditions was determined. The effects of residual oil saturation, and oil and surfactant prices on the determination of optimum slug size were investigated. The results showed that these three parameters have a great effect on the decision of applying a more economical recovery process.