Principles of Enhanced Oil Recovery

This book presents the latest progress in enhanced oil recovery technology and introduces the application of various enhanced oil recovery methods in oilfield development. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a continuous theme in oilfield development. Due to the influence of geological conditions, development mode and physical and chemical factors, more than half of the proven oil reserves remain underground and cannot be accessed. Therefore, many enhanced oil recovery methods have been developed to achieve higher oil recovery. This book presents the basic principles and provides the chemistry knowledge related to enhanced oil recovery. It also expounds the applicable criteria of chemical agents. In addition, combined with field application examples, the limitations of existing enhanced oil recovery methods are analyzed, and the future development direction of enhanced oil recovery technology is highlighted. It is worth noting that the integral profile control and water shutoff technology in this book is widely recognized in the enhanced oil recovery industry and has achieved remarkable economic benefits. Given its scope, this book is useful for the scientific and technical personnel engaged in the study of oil recovery chemistry and enhanced oil recovery and also as a teaching reference for teachers and students majoring in petroleum engineering and oilfield chemistry.

Caili Dai obtained her doctorate in 2006. She has been a professor at China University of Petroleum (East China) since 2008. She has been devoted to scientific research on enhanced oil recovery and oilfield chemistry and is a distinguished scholar in China in the field of petroleum engineering. She is the winner of National Outstanding Youth Science Fund and has been awarded 'Yangtze River Scholar Distinguished Professor'. She has won a second prize of National Scientific and Technological Progress Award and many provincial and ministerial Scientific and Technological Awards. Dai Caili has published more than 200 papers and 2 books and been authorized more than 30 patents. She is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a fellow of the Chinese Petroleum Society.

Qing You obtained his Ph.D. in 2009. He has been a professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing) since 2021. He has been devoted to scientific research on enhanced oil recovery and oilfield chemistry and is an outstanding young scholar in China in the field of petroleum engineering. Qing You has published more than 100 papers and 3 books and been authorized more than 40 patents. He is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and American Chemical Society.

Mingwei Zhao focused on the oilfield chemistry and enhanced oil recovery. He focuses on the key materials of fracturing fluid and plugging agent, constructed chemical molecular functional groups, revealed the interaction rules between chemical molecules and invented two control systems of nano-enhanced clean pressure flooding working fluid and hybrid gel plugging agent. A total of 36 papers have been published in industrial leading journal (3 cover articles). The applicant participated in the compilation of 4 books. A total of 20 invention patents were authorized, including 6 US invention patents.

Guang Zhao has highly motivated, creative and versatile Ph.D. with more than 13 years of research in petroleum and gas development and advanced skills in enhanced oil and gas recovery, fracturing research in unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, field application design and laboratory experiments. Track record of research documented through 36 publications, 8 reports, 34 patents, and 6 prizes. Participation in National 863 Program, National 973 Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China, National S&T Major Project, and three dominating petroleum companies (CNPC, SINOPEC and CNOOC) more than 20 projects about water shutoff, profile control, fracturing in oil and gas reservoirs.

Fulin Zhao was born in August 1933. His career spans for more than fifty years in the teaching and research work of oil production chemistry. He published more than 200 papers and was authorized 7 national patents. Fulin Zhao is the founder and pioneer of the discipline of 'Oilfield Chemistry' in China, aiming at using chemical principles and methods to explain and solve problems encountered in the oilfield. He established the teaching material system of oil production chemistry by publishing 5 textbooks, among which Oil production Chemistry and Oilfield Chemistry were awarded National Excellent Teaching Materials Award. The book we present here is an outcome of decades' endeavors, in which the methods and chemical agents proposed have been tested in long-term production practice.