Laboratory experiments on oil displacement using complexes based on enzyme solutions on a reservoir model

Abstract It is shown that the oil recovery of all tested samples increases after treatment with the enzyme solution; the oil displacement coefficient varies within 7.23 – 10.59%. The change in values is associated with various characteristics of core samples in terms of porosity, permeability, initial oil saturation, as well as lithological composition. The model clearly demonstrates that the differential pressure decreases after enzyme solution treatment. This indicates that the presence of the enzyme solution changes the wettability of oil with oil-bearing rock. Oil is easily displaced from the core sample and, therefore, the permeability of the core sample increases. The outcomes of studying water permeability of core samples before and after injection of the enzyme solution reveal that the sample permeability increases when using the enzyme solution (the recovery coefficient of the core sample permeability is 1.34-1.68).