Enhanced Recovery In Alberta-A Review, And the Role of the Energy Resources Conservation Board
Authors: Govier G.W. 
Published: March 2010

There are opportunities to encourage or assist enhanced recovery from the time of initial development until abandonment of an oil pool. The Energy Resources Conservation Board has developed a data base and, in consultation with industry, has evolved a system of regulations and procedures which plays a significant role in the development of optimum enhanced recovery operations. Among the effective incentives has been the proration plan whereby production is allocated largely in proportion to recoverable reserves.

Some 11.5 of the 35.5 billion barrels of initial proved oil in place in Alberta is recoverable by methods currently being applied. About one-third of the proved initial recoverable reserves is the result of enhanced recovery operations, The remaining 240 billion barrels presents a substantial challenge. The Energy Resources Conservation Board, industry and the Alberta Government have initiated an extensive research program in Alberta with a view to increasing the portion of the in-place reserves which is recoverable. Economic incentives are equally important in increasing oil recovery and also are being reviewed.

Introduction

I am pleased to have the opportunity of presenting one of the keynote addresses at this important joint meeting of CSPG and PS of CIM stressing "Enhanced Recovery of Crude Oil." No aspect of the petroleum industry, in my opinion, is more urgent or more important than increasing the recovery of our known crude oil resources. The very creation and the continued existence of the Energy Resources Conservation Board is because of the broad concerns of the public, the government and the petroleum industry for conservation and the prevention of waste, The best of good conservation calls for the use of enhanced recovery techniques. Whether introduced early in the production life of a reservoir, or later as "secondary recovery", or even later as "tertiary recovery", or whatever the name, the matter of importance is that such techniques can increase the proportion of the in-place resource which is recovered and available for use. With a depleting and non-renewable resource such as crude oil, the highest practically attainable recoveries are of special importance. The new public and world-wide awareness of conservation is directed mostly at efficient use and prevention of waste at the stage of ultimate consumption. This is of obvious importance. Those of us who are associated with crude oil production, however, may take some pride in the knowledge that conservation has been a keyword in our vocabularies, with respect to production operations, at least since the early 1940's.

In reviewing enhanced recovery in Alberta and commenting on the role of the Energy Resources Conservation Board, I thought it might be appropriate to deal briefly with the following:reservoir and production data;regulation of pool development and production operations;the growth and level of enhanced recovery operations in Alberta.

From this background, I would like to comment on the opportunities and challenges today and for the future and the importance of expanding our effect on application-directed research.