Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers (한국자원공학회지)

The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers (한국자원공학회)
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Recent Trends and Prospects of Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

석유회수증진을 위한 화학적 공법 연구 동향 및 전망

  • 최영일 (한국해양대학교 에너지자원공학과) ;
  • 강판상 (한국해양대학교 에너지자원공학과) ;
  • 임종세 (한국해양대학교 에너지자원공학과)
  • Received : 2018.11.13
  • Accepted : 2018.12.20
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a method used to improve the recovery factor of remaining hydrocarbon in reservoir. Polymer and surfactant EOR techniques have limitations depending on reservoir or production conditions (temperature, salinity, etc.) because the polymer and surfactant are highly affected by the reservoir conditions. In this study, analysis of the current improvements to chemical substances and application technologies was performed based on recent research data. Conventional polymer is readily degraded by the conditions of high temperature and high salinity. Therefore, new polymers and injection techniques have been developed to remediate such problems. In addition, surfactant applicable to shale and carbonate reservoirs is developed as petroleum recovery expands to unconventional reservoirs. However, these chemical substances are not widely used in the current oil fields due to high costs. Therefore, further studies must be conducted to reduce the cost and thus increase the effectiveness of EOR techniques.

석유회수증진법은 저류층 내의 잔존 석유의 회수율을 높이는 기술로 그 종류가 다양하다. 이 중 화학적 공법에 사용되는 폴리머, 계면활성제는 온도, 염도 등에 영향을 받으므로 적용할 수 있는 저류층이나 생산조건에 제약이 있다. 이 연구에서는 최근 연구 자료를 기반으로 화학적 공법의 문제해결과 효율 향상을 위한 기술 개발에 대해 분석하였다. 고온 및 고염 조건에서 분해가 쉽게 발생하는 기존의 폴리머를 개선하기 위해 새로운 폴리머 및 주입법 기술이 개발되었고 석유회수증진이 비전통저류층으로 활용 범위를 확대함에 따라 셰일과 탄산염암 저류층에 적용 가능한 계면활성제 개발이 이루어지고 있다. 하지만 이러한 화학물질은 비용이 높아 아직까지 현장에서는 널리 활용되어지지 않고 있으며 추가적인 연구를 통해 비용을 절감할 수 있다면 석유회수증진을 위해 효과적으로 적용될 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 산업통상자원부

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