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Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, Vol.43, No.12, 56-61, 2004
Alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flood potential in southwest Saskatchewan oil reservoirs
Most of the medium oil reservoirs in southwest Saskatchewan are in thin pay zones of less than 8 m. Primary and waterflood methods have reached more than 80% of their estimated oil recovery potential. These medium oil reservoirs are basically untouched by enhanced oil recovery techniques. An initial study was conducted to assess the suitability of Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer (ASP) flooding for southwest Saskatchewan reservoirs. On the basis of screening criteria in the literature, the region's reservoir conditions, except for some of the formation types, are favourable for ASP flooding. If only sandstone formations are considered for this process, about 49% of the pools in the region are good candidates for ASP flooding. Extensive oil/water interfacial tension and viscosity measurements were taken using screening criteria for surfactant, alkaline, and polymers. A series of sandpack flood tests were conducted in sandpacks to evaluate ASP flooding for the oil. A tertiary oil recovery of 39% IOIP (72% ROIP) was obtained for the test using all three chemicals. These sandpack flood test results showed that a synergistic enhancement among the chemicals did occur in the ASP system for the medium oil with a very low acid number. The results also indicated that, for a medium oil, mobility control was essential and selection of the right surfactant was important.