Publications

The Meruap Oilfield has an average daily oil production between 3,000–3,500 BOPD (Barrel of Oil Per Day). To improve oil production in this field, Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) technology was utilized, where a pre-pilot project (field test), with injection of surfactant kind Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic (ABS) petroleum base treatment was implemented. It was chosen based on the laboratory study (reference Table 1) conducted in the Meruap Oilfield. Surfactant injection is used to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) of oil-fluids, where the oil is trapped due to capillary pressure and is unmovable, hence this trapped oil could be displaced by the surfactant injection. The miscibility of the surfactant with oil-performed emulsion will reduce the capillary pressure. Based on the compatibility test, the Meruap reservoir fluid (formation water) and oil sample, IFT test, and core analysis, Surfactant ABS was used in the implementation of injection Huff and Puff surfactant in Well-1 and Well-2. It has a concentration of 0.3% weight, with a total volume of surfactant solution about 3,000 bbl per well candidate. Implementing chemical EOR in this case is the best way to increase oil production. Monitoring results during the two-month period in the field indicated interfacial tension between oil and fluids (middle phase in sample fluids) and a wellbore cleaning effect on the formation. Oil recovery after the surfactant injection was conducted at the Well-1 was 23–28 BOPD (93%), while before the surfactant injection, it was 14 BOPD. In Well-2, the oil recovery after surfactant injection was 40–46 BOPD (59%), while before the injection, it was 29 BOPD. These phenomena need to be evaluated for further steps in the Meruap full field chemical EOR implementation.