Enhanced recovery

Chemical EOR for Heavy Oil: The Canadian Experience

Chemical enhanced-oil-recovery methods such as polymer and alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding are generally not considered suitable for oil viscosities greater than 100 or 200 cp.

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Fig. 1—Map showing location of pools.
Source: SPE 169715

Chemical enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) methods such as polymer and alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding are generally not considered suitable for oil viscosities greater than 100 or 200 cp. However, this perception is changing, in particular because of field results from a number of chemical EOR pilots or full-field floods conducted in Canada in higher-viscosity oil. The aim of this paper is to review some of these projects.

Introduction

Canada is well-known for its heavy-oil and bitumen reserves. Most of the bitumen reserves are exploited using thermal methods, such as cyclic steam stimulation or steam-assisted gravity drainage, while heavy oil is exploited mostly using cold production methods, such as cold heavy-oil production with sand.

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