Analysis of EOR projects and updated screening criteria Ahmad Al Adasani a, b , Baojun Bai b, ⁎ a Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait b Petroleum Engineering Department, Missouri University of Science and Technology, United States abstract article info Article history: Received 31 January 2010 Accepted 20 July 2011 Available online 29 July 2011 Keywords: EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) thermal EOR gas EOR chemical EOR microbial EOR EOR screening criteria Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) provides a means to progressively expand hydrocarbon exploitation through scientific advancements. EOR methods have been proved to mobilize, and induce the flow of oil to producing wells in primary, secondary, and tertiary recovery stages. This work involves the construction of an EOR database based on numerous reported EOR projects. The database lists reservoir rock and fluid properties in addition to other project attributes related to oil saturations, incremental recovery, demography, and project start date. The database provides a profile of worldwide EOR trends. This paper also updates the EOR selection criteria published by Taber et al. in 1996 (Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) 35385). Finally, this paper illustrates the relationship of EOR project distribution to key reservoir characteristics. The database can be a vital tool for formulating field development plans, ensuring project viability, and clarifying research development priorities. Published by Elsevier B.V. 1. Introduction The demand for oil is increasing, and oil is expected to remain the predominant form of energy used worldwide for the next two decades (Anonymous, 2007; Marilyn and Bell, 2009). EOR involves the application of external forces, and substances to manipulate chemical and physical interactions in hydrocarbon reservoirs in a manner that promotes favorable recovery conditions. EOR can be applied in the first stage of an oilfield development in cases where natural reservoir forces are inadequate to induce the flow of oil to producing wells, such as thermal flooding for heavy oil reservoirs. EOR has also been adopted in the second stage to further augment production rates by promoting oil flow, and favorable recovery conditions, such as CO 2 flooding. Additionally, EOR methods are often used in the tertiary stage in cases where oilfields have high water cut and low oil production rate. Therefore, EOR has the potential to reclassify unrecoverable and contingent reserves in amounts exceeding the quantity of oil currently produced. In the past four decades, several EOR methods have proved viable in field development projects, permitting incremental recovery, while excluding both dry hole and completion costs, and using existing infrastructure. Despite the implementation of over six hundred EOR projects since 1959 (Anonymous, 1998; Anonymous, 2000; Anonymous, 2002; Anonymous, 2006; Koottungal, 2008; Koottungal, 2010; Mortis, 2004), the use of EOR remains limited worldwide. For example, the United States (US) leads the world in EOR project implementation; however, EOR production constitutes only a fraction of total oil daily production. The implementation and development of any recovery methodology, especially on a field-wide scale, depends on confidence in its efficacy. To establish such confidence, an in-depth analysis of EOR projects is required. The guidance available for the selection of EOR methods (Taber et al., 1996) is widely cited but does not include several EOR methods and projects that have been reported in the past fifteen years. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 79 (2011) 10–24 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 573 3414016. E-mail address: baib@mst.edu (B. Bai). Chemical 10.89% Thermal 47.70% Gas 40.80% Microbial 0.61% Fig. 1. World EOR project categories (1959–2010). (Data Adtoped from from Reference (Anonymous, 1998; Anonymous, 2000; Anonymous, 2002; Anonymous, 2006; Awan et al., 2006; Cadelle et al., 1981; Demin et al., 1999; Demin et al., 2001; Hongfu et al., 2003; Koottungal, 2008; Koottungal, 2010; Mortis, 2004; Taber et al., 1996)). 0920-4105/$ – see front matter. Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2011.07.005 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/petrol