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Enhanced Oil Recovery (ASP Flooding)

Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding is an advanced Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technique, where alkali, surfactant, and polymer are injected into the reservoir to displace crude oil. Polymers increase the viscosity of the injected water, enhancing the macroscopic sweep efficiency by stabilising the displacing front and mitigating the effects of reservoir heterogeneity. Surfactants reduce the interfacial tension between the injected water and crude oil, which improves microscopic displacement efficiency by mobilising trapped oil. Alkaline chemicals react with the crude oil to generate soap, which further reduces surfactant adsorption to grain surfaces.

Following the success of the ASP pilot in the Mangala field, Cairn has scaled up ASP implementation in Mangala well pads 1 and 19. This is expected to yield approximately 20% additional oil recovery in the targeted area. The commercial deployment of ASP flooding is a significant milestone, paving the way for the expansion of ASP across other areas of Mangala and additional fields within the Rajasthan block.

Innovation In Concept Optimisation

  1. 01
    Reduction of field installation time and cost by using ‘Spool-able Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe’ instead of DSS lines
  2. 02
    Skid-based modular polymer mother solution preparation unit instead of the conventional plant to reduce execution time and onsite construction and provide flexibility for relocation
  3. 03
    Low invasive drilling fluid system to control wellbore damage