Abstract
At the end of 1998, the proven world oil reserve is estimated as 1051.74 milliard barrels and the natural gas reserve as 152.5 trillion cubic meters. A tremendous amount of these natural resources of energy is deposited in the Arab World, especially in the Arabian Gulf. About 61% (643.41 milliard barrels) of the world oil reserve and 21% (32.613 trillion cubic meters) of the world natural gas reserve are allocated in the Arabian countries. In general, about 70% of the hydrocarbon resources remain in the underground petroleum reservoirs after conventional recovery methods of production. Several factors, such as reservoir heterogeneity, capillary forces, well completion, and pressure decline, affect the hydrocarbon recovery efficiency.
The main objective of this research is to emphasize the importance of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques and their role to increase the percentage of oil recovery. Some examples of experimental work done in this aspect are demonstrated. Indeed, an increment of only 1.0% of the Original Oil in Place (OOIP), in the Arab World for example, results in an additional income of about $36 million US dollars at a current oil price of $25 per barrel. Also, on the basis of 20 million barrels/day oil production rate, an additional production life of about three years will be achieved. Therefore, it becomes increasingly necessary to establish sophisticated research and development programs for study and implementation of the enhanced oil recovery techniques.