Formulation of Local Alkaline- Surfactant-Polymer (Asp) For Enhanced Oil Recovery in Niger Delta: A Review

摘要

The Niger Delta basin has being producingfor over 50years using primary recovery method. It is gradually advancing into secondary oil recovery stage after which the tertiary oil recovery techniques will be exploited. The primary and secondary recovery methods are only able to recover about 30–35% of oil from the reservoir leaving the 65–70% trapped. As the demand for energy and the cost of drilling increases globally, there arises the need to squeeze the bottom of the barrel. Chemical processes is one of the tertiary recovery techniques which involves the use of chemicals (Alkaline, Surfactant, and Polymer) for enhance oil recovery but these synthesized chemicals are imported and expensive. Several researchers have shown that Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) blends have high potentials to enhance oil recovery through a combination of the positive effects of these three types of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) agents. Research had also shown that local materials in our environment can enhance oil recovery. This review paper outlines local materials that have being in use in the formulation of ASP for EOR. Challenges involved in using these local materials are also outlined. One of such challenges is that most of thesematerials are also used as food. The use of agro-wastesfrom plants that have similar characteristics as the consumable local materials for the formulation of local ASP is proposed. These agro-wastes provide salinity tolerance and are stable at high temperature when compared with synthesized chemicals. Their utilization will minimize production cost as their cost will be theoretically independent of oil price, maximize profit, convert waste to wealth and create job opportunities for Nigerians.