STEAM

INJECTION
VERSUS

POLYMER
FLOODING
COMPARING 2 TYPES OF EOR

Enhanced Oil Recovery or EOR – is the process of

increasing the amount recoverable oil from a
reservoir, usually by injecting a substance into an
existing oil well.

STEAM
INJECTION
During thermal recovery the reservoir is
heated to reduce oil viscosity. Steam
injection is the most common method
used in thermal EOR.
POLYMER 
FLOODING
Long chain polymers are injected along
with water or other flooding agents to
improve the viscosity ratio, decreasing
viscous fingering.

- Used in shallow reservoirs with high - Improves Sweep in

viscosity crude oil. Reservoir
- Heats the crude oil lowering viscosity - Great for improving
and vaporising some of the oil increasing the mobility ratio.
mobility. - Applied when water
-Reduces surface tension & increase the flood mobility ratio is
permeability of oil improving reservoir high
seepage conditions. - Increases viscosity of
flood water.
Cyclic Steam
Stimulation

Steam Flooding

A slug is injected usually of alkali or

surfactant that mixes with the oil and
changes properties such as decreasing
IFT and altering rock wettability. A
polymer solution follows to improve the
mobility differential between oil and
Steam is injected by injection wells that
injected fluids. The polymer solution is
moves towards the oil heating it and
followed by a freshwater slug to
reduces viscosity. Steam floods require
optimise recovery of the chemical and
continuity to allow steam to drive oil
then a flood with water drive.
towards the production well.
PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF POLYMER
Physical Effects of Steam Injection
FLOODING
- Viscosity Reduction
- Provides Pressure Support
- Sweep Improvement
Challenges
- Steam cools and mixes with oil. Polymer Flood Screening Criteria
- Steam injection damages the
underground well structure.
- Costly

Steam Injection Screening Criteria