Produção Nacional
IMPROVED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL: A REVIEW
2008; Volume: 2; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1982-0593
AutoresJ. L. M. Barillas, T. V. Dutra Júnior, Wilson da Mata,
Tópico(s)Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods
ResumoPetroleum is one of the main sources of energy in the world, occupying the first place of the Brazilian energy matrix. Therefore, technologies that involve the development and application of techniques capable of increasing the profitability of oil fields are important and require more thorough studies. In Brazil, self-sufficiency has been already reached in oil production, however it is necessary that improved oil recovery technologies be continually studied to maintain the current production or to increase it. Rio Grande do Norte (a Brazilian State) comprises many heavy oil reserves and the exploration activities in the Brazilian Basins of Campos, Santos and Espirito Santo have led to the discovery of large amounts of heavy oils. It is possible to increase heavy oil recovery in some of these reservoirs with the help of improved oil recovery processes, thus enhancing oil field productivity and profitability. Until recently, heavy oil reserves did not attract much interest. The lowest oil profitability, the low price of the oil barrel in the international market, the difficulties involved in its extraction and its refining, and the large amount of light and medium oils to be explored could not justify the investments. Maturity of light and medium oil fields and the significant increase in oil price placed that source of energy under a new perspective. In Brazil, the confirmed reserves constitute 2.9 billion barrels approximately, 26% of the total reserves, and the production should reach 450 thousand barrels daily or 25% of the total production predicted for 2010 (ANP, “Agencia Nacional do Petroleo – Brazilian Petroleum National Agency, 2006). To improve the capacity of drainage of the heavy oils and to increase its recovery, different thermal methods have been developed. Those more used involve steam in the process, because they are more efficient than other processes such as “in situ” combustion or water injection. The steam is used with the intention of reducing the high oil viscosity and, as a consequence, enhancing phase mobility in porous media so as to obtain a more efficient drainage up to the producing well.
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