Technology & Applications

Single Well Stimulation

GreenZyme® has been used to treat several single wells to unclog near well-bore areas and find new layers of suitable oil. There were cases in which formation damage was removed. Enzyme technology reduces the interfacial tension of well-bore, therefore improves permeability and the mobility of the oil. Treatments are usually very simple. Most treatments to date have used four to six drums 55 gallons of GreenZyme® diluted to concentrations between 5 to 10% solution in a mixing tank and then pumped inside the well. Once the the pumping is completed, the well is closed for 3-5 days to give time to the enzyme to work before resuming production.

Waterfloods

GreenZyme® completed core flood tests, where tests showed improvement of up to 13% of OOIP post-waterflood using 7% diluted GreenZyme®. Berea sandstone core and a 20 degree API gravity Brazilian crude oil where used. Lab tests have reconfirmed the effect showing increased recovery post waterflooding. Recent tests show a significant decline of interfacial tension (IFT) using the GreenZyme® fluid, promoting formation wettability and the mobility of most oils. The GreenZyme® fluid can be slugged or injected sporadically in a waterflooding to improve return. Pumping GreenZyme® into the oil wells is a simple procedure. Given the limits that currently exist for recovery technologies, application of GreenZyme® fluid is be an exceptional way get better oil recovery - including lower API gravity oil. (1)(2)

Heavy Oil

GreenZyme® technology adds another way to help activate and improve recovery for more thicker crude oil, including medium and heavy oil. Recent lab tests using a 26 degree API gravity oil show a reduction in viscosity of >16%, but depth of production can also impact composition of the oil. Varying compositions of asphaltenes and paraffins also impact mobility. The GreenZyme® solution can supplement EOR technologies such as steam, by decreasing viscosity adequately for lower API gravity oil to flow. (3)

Paraffin Treatments

Laboratory test demonstrate that the GreenZyme® solution caused a reduction in > C 30's that make up wax and paraffin components in crude oil. This indicates the GreenZyme® solution catalytic action, which also reduces surface tension, should be successful in assisting sustained production in wells that have issues with paraffin build-up. Note: the GreenZyme® solution doesn't eliminate pour point issues, but it may help alleviate their operational impact and recover overall production. Pre-heating of the GreenZyme® solution to 80-90 degrees C (174-194 degrees F) has been done abroad to successfully treat wells with pour point problems.

Gas Wells with Oil Production

Oil and condensate produced along with the gas can be found in many wells. Build-up and later formation damage near well-bore, can impede both the flow of gas and oil in vertical and horizontal wells. The GreenZyme® solution has many benefits in clearing near well-bore areas, allowing gas and oil to flow. On the other hand, IFT reduction may also facilitate in unloading gas condensate.

Cyclic Steam

Enzyme fluid has been used as a pre-cursor to steam injection or in between steam cycles to improve productivity of the cycle. 20% less steam was used with significantly improved production in the next cycle. Overseas testing has indicated good heat tolerance for the GreenZyme® fluid under pressure and showing significantly improved production from a first steam cycle without GreenZyme® fluid, near 3,000 bbls oil, to the second steam cycle injected diluted GreenZyme® fluid as a pre-cursor with more than 21,000 bbls oil produced. It's possible the GreenZyme® fluid assists with penetration of heavy oil downhole that has sufficient elevated temperature for the GreenZyme® to begin facilitating reactions that break the oil into smaller droplets. The smaller size of the oil droplets has the effect of improving relative permeability near wellbore as well as the mobility of the oil. This would explain how a steam cycle can be extended and production per cycle improved.

Water Alternating Gas (WAG)

In an overview, the water-alternating-gas (WAG) and GreenZyme®   system is comprised of four (4) stages. The first stage includes a normal water composition injection stage with at least one injection well, an alternative period of idle process known as the soak stage, followed by the gas injection stage and then a recovery stage of produced oil by one or more producing wells that are designed and configured to recovery oil from one or more injection wells. This water-alternating-gas (WAG) and GreenZyme®  system is sequential and repeated based on the economics and availability of gas to inject, water availability, energy requirements to both produce oil and recover and re-inject the gas, and increased production and recovery rates achieved through the combination of gas injection and GreenZyme®  addition.

“Improved Oil Recovery & EOR using Biological Enzymes”