Surfactant Flooding – A Proven Method of Increasing Oil Recovery in Declined Mature Wells
There are several different methods of chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) which can be applied as a response to the continuous decline in the conventional oil reserves and the accelerated increase in the global energy demand. Surfactant flooding is a well-established method of chemical EOR. This method has proven successful as it increases oil recovery through a combination of mechanisms. These include interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, wettability alteration, foam generation and emulsification. Despite its popularity, surfactant flooding is still challenged by issues including instability under harsh (or normal) reservoir conditions and excessive adsorption. These issues affect the expected oil recovery and thereby reducethe economic returns of EOR projects. Nevertheless, surfactants can be properly selected according toreservoir conditions and rock type. This is usually carried out using surfactant screening methods, whichimpose limits related to the IFT, surfactant adsorption and other factors under given temperature and salinity conditions. RAKHARA is the only local company with years of experience in developing surfactant molecules from scratch to suit many types of oil and well formations found in Indonesia.
Field Proven Surfactants
Working together with experts from ITB and LEMIGAS, our expert teams always perform tireless efforts in designing, synthesizing, manufacturing and testing surfactants to meet technical requirements of oil fields in Kalimantan, Sumatera, Java and off-shore areas. No other companies have broad, deep and successful experiences in Indonesia. RAKHARA have also developed a proprietary water shut off polymer to help reduce excessive water cuts in many old wells both on-shore and off-shore areas. A combination of a surfactant and a water shut-off polymer can improve further the result of any EOR project.
