Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) or tertiary recovery or tertiary oil recovery is a technique used for increasing the amount of crude that can be extracted from an oil field. During the primary oil recovery stage, when an oil well is first completed and oil production begins, anywhere from 5% to 15% of the “original oil in place” (OOIP) in the oil well’s reservoir is recovered by natural forces driving or displacing the oil into the production well’s well bore.
EOR & Produced Water Treatment
In the Enhanced Oil Recovery process, water or steam is used to heat the crude oil in the formation to reduce its viscosity or it’s resistance to flow which will extend a field’s productive life, resulting in the recovery of 20 to 40 percent of the original oil in place. Enhanced Oil Recovery wells typically produce large quantities of brine at the surface. The brine may contain toxic metals and radioactive substances, while also being very salty. This water byproduct must be treated before discharge or reinjection. Inadequate produced water treatment before discharge can be very damaging to drinking water sources and the environment. Treated water, however, can be reused in the system.
Aquatech is one of the pioneering companies to offer oil recovery water recycle and reuse systems for the Enhanced Oil Recovery fields. We offer fully integrated automated systems that produce and outlet high purity distillate that can even be used as high purity distillate for the steam generator plant.