The ultimate recovery from shale formations is relatively low compared to the total in-place reserves. The important role that these reservoirs have in the future of the oil and gas industry generates a significant need for cost-effective and environmentally-friendly enhanced oil recovery techniques. This study evaluates the application of enzyme EOR in shale reservoirs. Laboratory results of tests conducted on multiple cores taken from Woodford shale outcrops demonstrate an average of 20% improvement in the recovery factors.
Oil recovery in shale formations could be improved up to around 10% using cyclic gas injection. However, this study proves that adding biological enzymes has the potential to improve this recovery factor up to 25%. Moreover, the effect of enzymes is everlasting in the formation because the enzyme dissolved in formation water continues to invade pores and fractures in lower concentrations
Shadi Salahshoor, Sergio Gomez, Mashhad Fahes at The University of Oklahoma