Chapter 14 - Principles of Waterflooding

Abstract

This chapter discusses the principles of waterflooding. The terms primary oil recovery, secondary oil recovery, and tertiary (enhanced) oil recovery are traditionally used to describe hydrocarbons recovered according to the method of production, or the time at which they are obtained. Primary oil recovery describes the production of hydrocarbons under the natural driving mechanisms present in the reservoir without supplementary help from injected fluids such as gas or water. Secondary oil recovery refers to the additional recovery that results from the conventional methods of water injection and immiscible gas injection. Usually, the selected secondary recovery process follows the primary recovery, but it can also be conducted concurrently with the primary recovery. Waterflooding is perhaps the most common method of secondary recovery. However, before undertaking a secondary recovery project, it should be clearly proven that the natural recovery processes are insufficient; otherwise, there is a risk that the substantial capital investment required for a secondary recovery project may be wasted.