Chapter 13 - Wettability modifiers for enhanced oil recovery from tight and shale reservoirs

Abstract

The application of multistage hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling made it possible to produce hydrocarbons from tight and shale reservoirs at economically feasible rates. The United States Energy Information Administration reported that approximately 65% of the total United States crude oil production was from tight reservoirs (shales, sandstone, and carbonate formations) in 2020. However, the production rate from such a tight reservoir tends to rapidly decrease, resulting in a primary recovery factor smaller than 10%. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in tight reservoirs is crucial for long-term energy security. Every 1% of EOR from tight oil reservoirs is equivalent to a few tens of million barrels per year in the United States. This is a substantial addition to the oil production without having to drill new wells; that is, EOR can reduce the environmental footprint of shale-oil production.