Revisiting the Application of Ultrasonic Technology for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Mechanisms and Recent Advancements

Huan Zhang (), Chunyang Gao, Hongli Zhang, Naijian Song and Qiang Cao
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Huan Zhang: College of Chemistry and Material, Weinan Normal University, Weinan 714099, China
Chunyang Gao: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Beijing 102206, China
Hongli Zhang: College of Chemistry and Material, Weinan Normal University, Weinan 714099, China
Naijian Song: College of Chemistry and Material, Weinan Normal University, Weinan 714099, China
Qiang Cao: College of Chemistry and Material, Weinan Normal University, Weinan 714099, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Ultrasonic technology, which has been receiving increasing attention from the petroleum industry, has emerged as a promising environmentally-friendly technology due to its high adaptability, simple operation, low cost, and lack of pollution; the mechanisms of this technology are clarified herein. At the same time, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the impact of ultrasound on enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by removing plugs, reducing oil viscosity, and demulsifying crude oil, while highlighting the latest advancements in this field. Lastly, this paper delves into the challenges and prospects associated with the industrial implementation of power ultrasound. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, serving as a valuable reference for future investigations on ultrasound-assisted EOR. Oil field results demonstrate that oil production increased by 26.5% to 100%, water cut decreased by 5% to 96%, the success rate ranged from 75% to 90%, and the effect can last for a duration of 4 h to 12 months.

Keywords: ultrasonic; enhanced oil recovery; plug removal; oil viscosity reduction; crude oil demulsification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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