Modified Starches Used as Additives in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) implementation arises as a supplementary technology to conventional ones, optimizing the not-easily recoverable oil phase. Estimation of oil remnant in reservoirs approaches to seven billion of barrels, after primary and secondary recoveries. One of the EOR strategies implies the use of displacing fluids, such as water-soluble polymers, which are pumped into the reservoir forcing the oil to flow toward the production wells. Thus, the state of the art related to the use of different starch derivatives in EOR is included in this chapter. Besides, diverse synthesis methodologies of the modified starches are presented, analyzing the optimal conditions of each reaction. Particularly, the synthesis of cationic starches is reported since they are the most used in EOR. Modification degree and physicochemical properties of the derivatives are included. Rheological and flow properties of displacing fluids are also discussed as a function of starch concentration.