Abstract Although many concepts of Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) were first developed in the Appalachian Basin, early IOR methods were often inefficient and the quantity of oil in place in the various fields was small in comparison to many of the reservoirs found later in other states and countries. For these reasons, a lot of IOR investment money and expertise was not directed to the Appalachian Basin (Basin). This paper generally reviews the IOR methods used and crude oil recoveries in the five oil producing states in the Basin. A discussion is then presented of producing zones and IOR methods that might be successful in the future. Other aspects that could influence IOR development activity such as oil price and domestic demand are also discussed.
While 1998 oil prices do not encourage IOR development in comparatively low recovery oil fields as generally found in the Basin, this paper could serve as a starting point for operators looking for future IOR prospects. This interest could be stimulated by a world oil crisis that demanded an increased development of domestic crude oil production or by higher crude oil prices generated through any number of reasons.
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