Petroleum is one of the most precious and complex molecular mixtures existing. Because of its chemical complexity, the solid component of crude oil, the asphaltenes, poses an exceptional challenge for structure analysis, with tremendous economic relevance. Here, we combine atomic-resolution imaging using atomic force microscopy and molecular orbital imaging using scanning tunnelling microscopy to study more than 100 asphaltene molecules. The complexity and range of asphaltene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are established in detail. Identifying molecular structures provides a foundation to understand all aspects of petroleum science from colloidal structure and interfacial interactions to petroleum thermodynamics, enabling a first-principles approach to optimize resource utilization. Particularly, the findings contribute to a long-standing debate about asphaltene molecular architecture. Our technique constitutes a paradigm shift for the analysis of complex molecular mixtures, with possible applications ...

Unraveling the Molecular Structures of Asphaltenes by Atomic Force Microscopy

Review of ASP EOR (alkaline surfactant polymer enhanced oil recovery) technology in the petroleum industry: Prospects and challenges

Critical review of low-salinity waterflooding

Demulsification techniques of water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions in petroleum industry

In-situ heavy and extra-heavy oil recovery: A review

Crude oil development and production in US oil reservoirs can include up to three distinct phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary (or enhanced) recovery During primary recovery, the natural pressure of the reservoir or gravity drive oil into the wellbore, combined with artificial lift techniques (such as pumps) which bring the oil to the surface But only about 10 per cent of a reservoir's original oil in place is typically produced during primary recovery Secondary recovery techniques to the field's productive life generally by injecting water or gas to displace oil and drive it to a production wellbore, resulting in the recovery of 20 to 40 per cent of the original oil in place In the past two decades, major oil companies and research organizations have conducted extensive theoretical and laboratory EOR (enhanced oil recovery) researches, to include validating pilot and field trials relevant to much needed domestic commercial application, while western countries had terminated such endeavours almost completely due to low oil prices In recent years, oil demand has soared and now these operations have become more desirable This book is about the recent developments in the area as well as the technology for enhancing oil recovery The book provides important case studies related to over one hundred EOR pilot and field applications in a variety of oil fields These case studies focus on practical problems, underlying theoretical and modelling methods, operational parameters (eg, injected chemical concentration, slug sizes, flooding schemes and well spacing), solutions and sensitivity studies, and performance optimization strategies The book strikes an ideal balance between theory and practice, and would be invaluable to academicians and oil company practitioners alike The following are the features of the book: Updated chemical EOR fundamentals - this book provides clear picture of fundamental concepts Practical cases with problems and solutions - this title provides practical analogues and experiences Actual data regarding ranges of operation parameters - this work provides initial design parameters Step-by-step calculation examples - this text provides practical engineers with convenient procedures

Modern Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: Theory and Practice

Polymer flooding is the most commonly applied chemical enhanced-oil-recovery technique. This paper provides an update on the status of polymer-flooding technology, focusing more on field applications than on theoretical and laboratory research. It covers the following topics: • Mechanisms of polymer flooding • Polymers used • Polymer-solution stability • Technical screening criteria • Laboratory and simulation work • Performance-monitoring technique • Summary of pilots and large-scale applications • Experience and learning from field projects • Polymer flooding in heavy-oil reservoirs • Polymer viscoelastic properties • Problems associated with polymer flooding and their solutions • Future developments The data and analysis presented in this paper will give readers updated information describing polymer flooding, as well as a guide to the relevant research. Survey data will also provide operators with reference data for project design and optimization.

Status of Polymer-Flooding Technology

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/1275569.pdf

James J. Sheng

Papers

Modern Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: Theory and Practice

Critical review of low-salinity waterflooding

Status of Polymer-Flooding Technology

Status of surfactant EOR technology

Enhanced Oil Recovery Field Case Studies