Enhanced Oil Recovery of Ultra-low Permeability Tight Reservoirs in North America

doi:10.11885/j.issn.1674-5086.2021.02.04.01

Abstract

Abstract: There are many significant breakthroughs in unconventional oil and gas development in North America in the past decade, among which is the combination of such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. However, only a small amount of oil from unconventional reservoirs can be recovered by primary recovery, which means a large amount of oil is remaining in tight reservoirs. Therefore, it is essential to develop the enhanced oil recovery technology in unconventional reservoirs. The United States produces more than 90 percent of the world's tight oil production, and has an overwhelming advantage in unconventional tight oil exploration and production. Operators in North America have conducted several field pilots on enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology in tight oil reservoirs with ultra-low permeability. The summary and evaluation of these field pilots in North American unconventional reservoirs are discussed. The main difficulties and challenges of the EOR development in unconventional reservoirs are also pointed out.

Key words: tight oil reservoir, ultra low permeability reservoirs, enhanced oil recovery, field test, overview

CLC Number:

TE34

FU Jing, YAO Bowen, LEI Zhengdong, TIAN Ye, WU Yushu. Enhanced Oil Recovery of Ultra-low Permeability Tight Reservoirs in North America[J]. Journal of Southwest Petroleum University(Science & Technology Edition), 2021, 43(5): 166-183.

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