Abstract
An approach for economic evaluation of crude oil displacement by chemical solutions (surfactant and/or alkaline) is developed. The approach is based on a probability distribution of escalating prices of oils, chemicals, polymers, brines, and operating and capital costs. Experimental data from an existing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) study of the Safaniyah oil field using surfactant solution as chemical were used to assess the validity of the proposed approach. The optimum surfactant slug size for the displacement process under test conditions was determined. The effects of residual oil saturation and of oil and surfactant prices on the determination of optimum slug size were investigated. The results showed that these 3 parameters have a great effect on the decision of applying a more economical recovery process. For EOR projects of any oil field, the optimum size of the surfactant slug decreases as the residual oil saturation or oil price increases.