Potentials of Enzyme Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review
Updated: Sep 2
Abstract
In this paper, we review the progress in understanding enzyme applications in hydrocarbon production from extensive experimental and field studies.
This is a review article rather than a new experiment. Co-authored by Dr. Tinuola Hannah Udoh (Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria, previously of the University of Aberdeen) and Lucas Evangelista (Biotech Processing Supply), it compiles and cross-references the enzyme EOR literature published through 2020 — laboratory studies, field trials, and comparative work by other research groups — rather than presenting a single new dataset.
Enzyme enhanced oil recovery (EEOR) is an emerging method of improving oil production in an environmentally friendly way, but the mechanisms underlying this process are not clearly understood. Also, detailed studies on enzyme enhanced oil recovery applications are not readily available.
From the comprehensive review carried out in this study, we observed that most of the works done on EEOR processes were not properly detailed and the different experimental procedures adopted makes coherent understanding of the process difficult.
Evident however in all the studies from the laboratory experiments and field applications, is the capacity of enzyme to improve oil production from both sandstone and carbonate rocks. Also, we have identified and highlighted the physicochemical properties of the enzymes commonly used for enhanced oil recovery and their effects on oil recovery process in order to improve the understanding of their applicability in relevant hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Furthermore, the challenges and future research directions for EEOR applications have been pinpointed in this study. Having unfolded the enhanced oil recovery potential of enzymes, we call for deeper studies on this emerging method of improving oil production. This study is relevant to the design and application of EEOR process in both carbonate and sandstone reservoirs.
Key Findings Across Enzyme EOR Studies
Across the laboratory studies compiled in this review, enzyme treatment consistently improved oil recovery in both core-flooding and spontaneous imbibition experiments:
Nasiri et al. (2009) tested 1% GreenZyme-brine on Berea sandstone cores in tertiary mode, recording 42% OOIP recovery with 10 pore volumes of water injection on one core, and 47% OOIP on a second, with an additional 2% OOIP recovered over untreated brine in spontaneous imbibition tests.
Udoh, Akanji & Vinogradov (2018) found that 1 wt% enzyme in low salinity brine added 1.86% and 6.28% incremental recovery over low salinity flooding in post-tertiary and tertiary modes respectively, while secondary-mode enzyme-low salinity flooding reached 82.76% total recovery in carbonate core plugs.
Comparable enzyme-based studies by Feng et al. (2007) and Wang reported recoveries ranging 12-21% and 90-95% respectively across different core and concentration setups, underscoring how much lab results vary by rock type, concentration, and test design.
Field-Scale Results
The review also compiles field implementations of enzyme EOR spanning several basins:
Prue Ranch (Anacacho) Oilfield, Frio County, Texas (Gray, 2007): average daily oil production doubled from 4.34 to a peak of 8.81 bbl/day following enzyme treatment.
Dagang and Baise oilfields, China (Feng et al., 2007): water cut dropped from 85% to 54% with a 41.6 bbl/day increase at Dagang, and oil rose from 4.4 to 12.4 bbl/day at Baise, both attributed to unplugging low-permeability layers. This is the same underlying source as SPE 107128, which we've separately cross-confirmed against internal well-level records (Ban 62-30) as a genuine GreenZyme application.
Mann Field, Salin sub-basin, Myanmar (Ott et al., 2011): two treated wells produced incremental recoveries of 530 and 1,636 barrels of oil within thirteen and nine months respectively.
Across these cases, the mechanisms most often identified are interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration toward more water-wet conditions, and, in some field settings, degradation of long-chain alkanes and paraffin content in the produced oil. The review notes these mechanisms are debated rather than settled — different research teams attribute similar results to different underlying causes, which is itself one of its central findings: the literature agrees enzyme EOR works more often than not, but not yet on exactly why.
Sources & Credits
Tinuola Hannah Udoh, Lucas Evangelista.
Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2020, pp. 51-63. Read the source →
Primary studies compiled in this review and cited above:
Gray, J. L. Analysis of EEOR Using GreenZyme for Prue Ranch (Anacacho) Oilfield, Hitzfelder. Jumpstart Energy Services, LLC, 2007.
Nasiri, H., Spildo, K., and Skauge, A. Use of Enzymes to Improve Waterflood Performance. International Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts, Noordwijk, 2009.
Feng, Q., Ni, F., Shao, D., Ma, X., Qin, B., Zhou, L., and Ji, C. EOR Pilot Tests with Modified Enzyme in China (SPE 107128). EUROPEC/EAGE Conference and Exhibition, SPE, 2007.
Jabbar, M., Azrak, O., Berthier, M., Blondeau, C., and Al-Amrie, O. Application of Enzyme EOR in a Mature UAE Offshore Carbonate Oil Field (SPE 177688). Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, SPE, 2015.
Ott, W. K., Nyo, T., Aung, W. N., and Khaing, A. T. EEOR Success in Mann Field, Myanmar. SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Conference, SPE, 2011.
Udoh, T., Akanji, L., and Vinogradov, J. Experimental Investigation of Potential of Combined Controlled Salinity and Bio-Surfactant (CSBS) in EOR Processes. Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, SPE, 2018.
Rahayyem, M., Mostaghimi, P., Alzahid, Y. A., Halim, A., Evangelista, L., and Armstrong, R. T. Enzyme Enhanced Oil Recovery (EEOR): A Microfluidics Approach. SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference, 2019.
