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University of Wyoming

UW Technologies Available for Licensing

Technology Disclosure: 08-099 Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Brine & Oil Re-injection

Water injection is an effective tool in maintaining the pressure in an oil reservoir and increasing the recovery of oil.  In this process,  commonly referred to as waterflooding  or secondary recovery, water is injected into a reservoir, forcing out residual oil.  Basically, the injected water pushes oil to producing wellbores.  However, current waterflooding techniques are not without shortcomings and a considerable amount of oil remains trapped in the reservoir after the process.

Researchers at the University of Wyoming have developed a new technology which decreases the amount of residual oil and increases the amount of oil recovered.  This new process is referred to as sequential or cyclic waterflooding.  The basis of their technique is to use initial injections of brine to displace oil, then subsequently begin to reinject a small amount of oil back into the reservoir.  Consecutive waterfloods using this technique are performed to recover the maximum amount of oil possible.  In addition, additives, such as surfactants, polymers, and foam, can be added to the injected water to improve the displacement of oil, which also substantially increases recovery.  Laboratory studies have demonstrated a substantial decrease in the amount of residual oil left in the reservoir.  In fact, the lab results suggest that oil recovery may be increased by at least 20% increase, over conventional waterflooding methods, with expectations of a much higher recovery rate when the technology is used in the field.

If your company is interested in licensing this technology, please contact the director of University of Wyoming technology licensing, Davona Douglass at (307) 766-2509.