Dawood University of Engineering & Technology

Department of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering

Topic: “Comparative study of different Enhanced Oil Recovery

techniques and identification of better EOR techniques along with
evaluation of algae-carbon injection”

Supervisor: Engr.Ghazanfar Raza Abbasi

Co-supervisor: Engr. Tariq Chandio
E-supervisor : Miss Yani Araujo De Itriago
(EOR and Core Analysis Specialist with more than 25 years experience
in the Oil and Gas Industry and she has published more than 67
research papers)
We have taken help from her through S.P.E e-monitoring services.
Group Members:
S.No Name Roll No. Designation
1 Yasir Arfat DUET-PG-12-223 Group Leader
2 Khalil-ur-Rehman Shah DUET-PG-12-221 Assistant Group Leader
3 Muneeb Aftab Memon DUET-PG-12-222 Group Member
4 Ali Nawaz Jatoi DUET-PG-12-229 Group Member
Table of Contents

 INTRODUCTION
PROBLEM STATEMENT
GOALS OF STUDY
OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENT

 LITERATURE REVIEW
E.O.R
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT EOR METHODS V/S CO2
ALGAE AND CARBON EVALUATION

 METHODOLOGY
PROJECT FLOW
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
\ PROCEDURE

 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

 FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

 REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
This study is proposed for minimizing the
productivity challenges in petroleum
industries and to develop an ideal
environment for enhancing the oil recovery.
The present era has great importance
towards energy reserves and towards
different steps involved in utilizing the
reserves economically and extracts the
source to its maximum recovery .
Enhanced oil and gas recovery is going to
be the future option for Pakistani
reservoirs sooner or later , when
conventional gas deposits will be running
short and oil reservoirs will not be able
to continue production under their current
depletion mechanisms .
INTRODUCTION (cont..)
As per MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between
MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company and OGDCL (Oil
and Gas Development Company Limited) on dated 23
September 2013 it was mutually decided by both
companies to work on Enhanced Oil Recovery in
Pakistani reservoirs [1]. In addition to this SGS Pakistan
is also deeply interested to work on Enhanced Oil
Recovery and applying its techniques in Pakistani
reservoirs [2]. The innovative part of this thesis will be
the invention of algae injection for Enhanced Oil
Recovery and will be applicable to the world wide
reservoirs.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The challenge in identifying the better enhanced oil recovery
technique lies in the complex interaction of injected agents
with the existing reservoir fluids in an ever challenging down
hole environment. Many of these challenges are well known
from the development of the field. The difficulty is
ensuring the proper chemical interaction and subsequent
flow conformance of the EOR sweep front for recovery of
more oil quickly. Making the right parametric decisions
regarding a chosen EOR technique while evaluating
dynamic economic and time friendly conditions.
GOALS OF STUDY
 Maximizing the recovery in low time and low cost by
evaluating and introducing a new EOR technique i.e algae-
carbon injection experimentally.

 To compare the EOR techniques by studying the flood

patterns, efficiencies of injections and recovery
mechanisms.

 Identifying the better EOR technique

OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENT

 To compare experimentally, the gas injection (CO2

injection) and algae-carbon injection by the ratio of results.

 To observe the effects of algae-carbon injection and

carbon dioxide CO2 injection.

 To identify the better EOR technique for improved oil

recovery in time and economic friendly conditions.

 To evaluate a new EOR technique i.e algae-carbon

injection
LITERATURE REVIEW
The general mechanism of oil recovery is movement of
hydrocarbons to production wells due to a pressure difference
between the reservoir and the production wells. The recovery
of oil reserves is divided into three main categories
worldwide, figure 2.1 illustrates these categories:

Figure 2.1 : Recovery Stages of a reservoir hydrocarbon

reservoir through time[4]
 

Primary recovery techniques:

This implies the initial production stage, resulted from the
displacement energy naturally existing in a reservoir.

Secondary recovery techniques:

Normally utilized when the primary production declines.
Traditionally these techniques are water flooding, pressure
maintenance, and gas injection. The recovery factor can rise
up to 50%.
 

Tertiary recovery techniques:

These techniques are referred to the ones used after the
implementation of the secondary recovery method. Usually
these processes use miscible gases, chemicals, and/or thermal
energy to displace additional oil after the secondary recovery
process has become uneconomical. The recovery factor may
arise up to 12% additionally to the RF obtained with the
secondary recovery method.
There are several EOR processes that are considered to be promising:
• Chemical Processes
• Thermal Processes
• Miscible Displacement Processes

 
These processes are the overall of the EOR techniques, as shown in figure
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF
DIFFERENT EOR METHODS V/S
 
CO2

Enhanced oil recovery techniques researches are very crucial

these days because it will help us produce the unrecovered oil
to help the humanity advancement. EOR techniques can
produce from 50 – 60 % of the oil in place to provide us with
fuel in the next decades. The Recovery of direct carbon
dioxide injection is higher than the recovery from WAG
injection.

Carbon is considered as the most time and economic friendly

EOR technique. Hence carbon capture projects can also be
implemented in order to save carbon dioxide gas and
economy.[2]
METHODOLOGY

Flow of work

Start
Literature Review
Deep studies of EOR techniques
EOR techniques and selection criteria and
understanding of methodologies applied in fields and
decision making
 

Basic preparations of Experiment

Performing experimental work
Discussion on results

Conclusions
EXPERIMENTAL PREPARATIONS

The experiment is based on the evaluation of algae-carbon

injection and comparing the Enhanced Oil Recovery
Techniques. The experiment is conducted in order to prove
effects of algae for the recovery of oil. The idea of experiment is
based on the EOR CO2 injection technique. In this is experiment
there is an artificial reservoir, an artificial injection well, and an
artificial production storage. The idea has been derived from the
carbon capture processes. The first stage was the basic
preparations of experiment and arranging the required material
after then it was necessary to setup a proper experimental setup
in order to perform the experiment and obtain the results.
MODIFIED - (CARBON-CAPTURE AND EOR INJECTION BY SHELLEY BAUMAN,
BARBARA LAZAR ET ALL, NEED PAPER PRESENTATION 2015
EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIAL USED

2 glass containers of size 11.5” by 8.5”

3 glass beakers with tight lids

5 ft plastic flexible pipe

1050 ml of crude oil ( 1 liter and 50 ml)

2450 ml of algae water ( 2 liters and 450 ml)

2450 ml of tape water ( 2 liters and 450 ml)

14 pieces of dry ice

Silicon Sealants
EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIAL USED
(cont..)
Tapes

Stones

Marbles

Pebbles

Different types of rocks

1 glass cutting tool

Silicon cutting tool

1 empty bottle of 5 liters

2 pieces of tape water pipes and 4 pieces of jointers for pipes

EXPERIMENTAL WORK
The concept of experimental setup is based on EOR techniques. Carbon
dioxide as gas injection, steam injection and algae injection are the basic
concepts of this experimental setup. Both of the tape water pipes lets
say pipe A and pipe B were inserted in the first glass container lets say
Glass container A and then was filled in with all the rocks, marbles,
pebbles, sand and stones after then 1050 ml of crude oil was filled in to
be the residual in order to make it artificial reservoir and finally glass
container was sealed from the top using glass cover and silicon sealants.
The size of pipes is larger than the size of container so that pipes can be
fixed to other glass container lets say container B by making two joints
later sealed with silicon sealants. The pipe A was connected to Glass
container B which was filled with water 2450 ml and mixed with 7 pieces
of dry ices and later was sealed with silicon using the glass cover . The
glass container A is the artificial reservoir. The glass container B is
injection well. Pipe A works as injection pipe and pipe B works as
production pipe shown in figure 3.1. For gaining the faster results we
performed this experiment on a small scale by using 3 glass beakers of
average size i.e lets say Glass beaker 1 as an artificial reservoir, Glass
Glass beaker 2 as an injection well, Glass beaker 3 as production storage.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK (cont..)

The main target of the experiment was to check and compare the
effects of carbon dioxide injection and algae-carbon injection.

The experiment was based on 2 main parts:

1- Carbon dioxide Injection

2- Evaluation Algae-Carbon Injection

SAFETY FOR DRY ICE:

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. Unlike most solids, it does not melt into
a liquid, but instead changes directly into a gas. This process is called
sublimation. The temperature of dry ice is around -109°F or -78.3°C! It
melts very quickly so if you need dry ice for an experiment or project,
buy it as close as possible to the time you need it.
Following rules must be followed:

1- We should never use dry ice without adult supervision. Dry ice can
cause serious injury if not used carefully!

2- Never store dry ice in an airtight container. As the dry ice melts from a
solid directly into a gas, the gas will build up in the container until it
bursts. Sharp pieces of container will go flying all over the place. Make
sure your container is ventilated. The best place to store dry ice is in a
foam chest with a loose fitting lid.
SAFETY FOR DRY ICE:
(cont..)

3- Do not touch dry ice with your skin! Use tongs, insulated (thick)
gloves or an oven mitt. Since the temperature of dry ice is so cold, it can
cause severe frostbite almost immediately. If you suspect you have
frostbite, seek medical help immediately.

4- Never eat or swallow dry ice! Again, the temperature of dry ice is very,
very cold. If you swallow dry ice, seek medical help immediately.

5- Never lay down in, or place small children or pets in, homemade
clouds. The clouds are made of carbon dioxide gas. People and pets could
suffocate if they breathe in too much gas.
SAFETY FOR DRY ICE:
(cont..)

6- Never place dry ice in an unventilated room or car. If you are traveling
with dry ice in the car, crack a window open. Same rule applies if you are
in a small room, crack a window open. You do not want too much carbon
dioxide gas to build up around you.

7- Always wear safety goggles when doing experiments with dry ice.

8- Do not place dry ice directly on counter tops. The cold temperature
could cause the surface to crack.

9-Leave the area immediately if you start to pant or have difficulty

catching your breath. This is a sign that you have breathed in too much
carbon dioxide gas.
SAFETY FOR DRY ICE:
(cont..)

10- Do not store dry ice in your freezer. It will cause your freezer to
become too cold and your freezer may shut off. However, if you lose
power for an extended period of time, dry ice is the best way to keep
things cold.

11- To dispose of dry ice, place in a well ventilated container and take it
outside where small children and pets cannot reach it. Simply let it
sublimate away.
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION:
The artificial reservoir was filled in with crude oil the specific amount of
crude oil about 150 ml, sand, marbles, pebbles, rocks and stones. The
injection well was then inserted with 1 piece of dry ice to create the
carbon dioxide injection for the production. Dry is solid form of carbon
dioxide. When dry ice is mixed in the water it produces carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide produced from the dry ice in the injection well was
transferred through the pipe to the reservoir i.e artificial reservoir. Carbon
dioxide then swept the gas and the effect was recovery of the crude oil
from the artificial reservoir.
The aim was to check the effects of CO2 injection and observe the
recovery ratio.
ALGAE CARBON INJECTION:
Algae are simple plants that can range from the microscopic (microalgae),
to large seaweeds (macroalgae), such as giant kelp more than one hundred
feet in length. Microalgae include both cyanobacteria, (similar to bacteria,
and formerly called “blue-green algae”) as well as green, brown and red
algae. (There are more varieties of microalgae, but these are the main
ones.) Algae can be grown using water resources such as brackish-, sea-,
and wastewater unsuitable for cultivating agricultural crops. When using
wastewater, such as municipal, animal and even some industrial runoff,
they can help in its treatment and purification, while benefiting from
using the nutrients present. Most microalgae grow through photosynthesis
– by converting sunlight, CO2 and a few nutrients, including nitrogen and
phosphorous, into material known as biomass This is called “autotrophic”
growth. Other algae can grow in the dark using sugar or starch (called
“heterotrophic” growth), or even combine both growth modes (called
“mixotrophic” growth). Algae are very diverse and found almost
everywhere on the planet.
ALGAE CARBON INJECTION:
(cont..)
They play an important role in many ecosystems, including providing the
foundation for the aquatic food chains supporting all fisheries in the
oceans and inland, as well as producing about 70 percent of all the air we
breathe. The blue green algae was produced from taking a sample of blue
green algae and mixed it with leafs of different plants and water and then
the samples were kept in the sun light for weeks in order to create the blue
green algae. Now a days algae is too useful for making bio diesel and bio
gases.
The artificial reservoir was filled in with the same amount of crude oil i.e
150 ml, marbles, pebbles, rocks and stones. The injection well’s silicon
sealants were removed and it was cleaned properly again and washed with
the surfactants and dish washing liquids for cleaning. Later on the
injection well was filled in with the algae water and then sealed with the
silicon surfactants. In order to enhance the recovery even more the algae
water was mixed with 3 pieces of dry ice and then the carbon dioxide was
produced double than previous because algae itself contain the much
amount of carbon.
ALGAE CARBON INJECTION:
(cont..)
About 107 parts are of carbon dioxide in algae water. When algae water
was mixed with the crude oil then carbon dioxide was produced double
than the previous one and then carbon dioxide was transferred through the
pipes to the reservoir in order to enhance the recovery and this proved to
be a mile stone.
The aim was to evaluate algae-carbon injection and check the effects of
algae-carbon injection by recovery ratio.
EXPERIMENT RESULTS :
The results obtained from pilot project are on two different techniques
Carbon dioxide Injection
Algae Injection

RESULTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE

INJECTION :

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. 1 piece of dry ice were mixed
with 350 ml of water in order to create carbon dioxide which was
transferred through pipe to the artificial reservoir from injection well in
order to enhance the recovery.
The experiment was carried out 3 times for taking the average results.
RESULTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE
INJECTION :
(cont..)

The results obtained using carbon dioxide gas as injection are as under :

S.No Amount Time Amount of Crude Oil Amount of Percentag

of Crude Recovered from the Carbon e of
Oil Reservoir Dioxide Recovery
Present Used
in the
Reservoir

    45 minutes   4 pieces of  
1   78 ml dry ice with 52%
    50 minutes   350 ml of  
2   78.5 ml tape water 52.3%
   
150 ml
    48 minutes    
3 78 ml 52%
   
   
Average Percentage of Recovery 52.1%
Results to be discussed :
It was observed that recovery effect of carbon dioxide injection was very
good. For the first time 72.6% recovery was observed. In the second time
73% recovery was observed. In the third time again 72.6 % recovery was
observed. An average recovery was about 72.7%.
Carbon dioxide injections are effective for recovery. Hence its an
economical technique because carbon capture process can be used.
RESULTS OF ALGAE CARBON
INJECTION:
About 350 ml of algae water was mixed with 3 pieces of dry ice to create
algae-carbon effect which was later transferred in to artificial reservoir via
pipe from injection well. Then the algae along with dry ice created the
large amount of carbon dioxide as algae already contains 106 parts of
carbon dioxide itself and with mixing of dry ice the effect was enhanced
even more.
The experiment was conducted for three times to take an average result.
RESULTS OF ALGAE CARBON
INJECTION:
(cont..)
The results obtained are as under :

S.No Amount of Time Amount of Crude Amount of Percentage

Crude Oil Oil Recovered Algae used of Recovery
Present in from the
the Reservoir
Reservoir

           
1          
         
  60 minutes 105 ml   70%
  7 pieces of
        dry ice  
2 150 ml     with 2450  
        ml of algae  
  52 minutes 104 ml water 69.3%
 
       
3      
     
59 minutes 105 ml 70%

   
   
Average Percentage of Recovery 69.7%
Results to be discussed :
Algae is the cheapest element. It can be easily found near lakes and
plants. Algae has the good effects on recovery as it contains 106 parts of
the carbon dioxide gas in it. About 92% recovery was observed for the
first time. In the second time about 91.3% recovery was observed. In the
third time again 91.3% recovery was observed.
Hence we can say that algae injection is the most cheapest and
economical and cost effective and time effective and environment friendly
technique.
API GRAVITY OF OIL

The formulae to calculate API gravity is as under :

API gravity = 141.5 / SG – 131.5
API gravity = 141.5 / 1.0 – 131.5
API gravity = 10.00 API
IMPACT OF MOBILITY

Fluid flow rate increases if the stones matrix is allowed to move because the
Darcy velocity relative to the solid matrix increases with matrix movement.
A zone of enhanced permeability is generated and grows outward, allowing a
greater fluid flux to the wellbore.
A sharp pressure drop in oil leads to generation of oil zone, which helps move
fluids toward the wellbore.
The use of carbon dioxide as an oil recovery agent in petroleum reservoirs has
been investigated for many petroleum reservoirs has been investigated for
many years. Both laboratory and field studies have established that CO2 can be
an efficient oil-displacing agent. The various mechanisms by which it can
displace oil from porous media have been of particular interest to the
petroleum industry. The mechanisms include (1) solution gas drive, (2)
immiscible CO2 drive, (3) hydrocarbon-CO2 miscible drive, (4) hydrocarbon
vaporization, (5) direct miscible CO2 drive, and (6) multiple-contact dynamic
miscible drive. Although these mechanisms may be known to some people in
the industry, the literature does not clearly distinguish between them and does
not point out the differences between CO2 displacement and other types of
displacement processes.
COMPARING THE RESULTS :

Comparing algae-carbon injection with carbon dioxide injections it is

undoubtedly clear that algae-carbon injection is better than carbon dioxide
and steam injections and WAG , SAWAG and other methods even
according to literature as well. Algae injection takes less effort, less time
and it is cost effective and environment friendly.
COMPARICONCLUSION AND
SUGGESTIONS

Enhanced oil recovery techniques are the best techniques which

can be proved milestone in recovery reservoirs and
implementation of EOR can be benefitual in terms of economics.
Applying EOR techniques to a depleting well is better than shutting
the well. EOR techniques are also helpful for boosting the future
hydrocarbon’s recoveries.
FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

It is concluded from this dissertation that :

Due to lack of time and resources the experiment could not take place on
large scale. It is suggested for future to conduct the experiment on a large
scale.

It is suggested to purchase quality material and carbon dioxide gas

cylinder in order to use the gas instead of dry ice because dry ice is
difficult to maintain and use.

It is also suggested to perform the experiment in laboratory conditions

and check the algae effects

The use of pressure pump is also suggested in order to check the effects
of algae-carbon-flooding.
FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS (cont..)

-CO2 injection can also be used and gives a higher oil recovery at a lower
cost than surfactant flooding.

-Most of the EOR methods are time-dependent function. Some of the

methods (surfactants and polymer flooding, thermal methods) require
considerable investments; however the response in the extra oil production is
usually delayed 5-10 years. This means that in order to be economical an
EOR method has to recover most of the extra oil within the time schedule for
conventional recovery. Otherwise the project will be uneconomical due to
extra operational costs and higher risk of realization.

-Hydrocarbon and inert gas injection methods can not be applied due to lack
of time. Although hydrocarbon injection can be applied as well in the future..

-Due to the lack of time and of technical knowledge it was not possible to
elaborate a precise model based on ECLIPE simulations. Therefore it is
highly suggested that a more profound study should be run in the future in
order to demonstrate the feasibility of the selection driven by this study using
softwares and performing the experiment on a larger scale.
FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS (cont..)
-Hydrocarbon and inert gas injection methods can not be applied since it is not a
field with light oil. Although hydrocarbon injection can be applied as well to
medium light oils.

-Due to the lack of time and of technical knowledge it was not possible to
elaborate a precise model based on ECLIPE simulations. Therefore it is highly
suggested that a more profound study should be run in the future in order to
demonstrate the feasibility of the selection driven by this study using softwares
and performing the experiment on a larger scale.

-The comprehension of the technical and economical knowledge regarding EOR

methods has been achieved successfully for the entire group. It was
demonstrated that by simplicity and basic comprehension it was possible to
improve the recovery.
References
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Q/A
Thankyou