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Tag: EOR

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Hands-on Laboratory Training on Chemical EOR at Lab EOR ITB: Bridging Knowledge, Industry, and Innovation

Hands-on Laboratory Training Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) di Lab EOR ITB, kolaborasi dengan OGRINDO ITB menghadirkan pelatihan praktis bagi profesional industri migas.

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Enhanced Oil Recovery Laboratory of Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), in collaboration with Oil and Gas Recovery for Indonesia (OGRINDO) ITB, successfully conducted the Hands-on Laboratory Training Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR). This event served as an important platform for industry professionals and academics to gain a deeper understanding of Chemical EOR metode through direct laboratory practice.

The main activities in this Hands-on Laboratory Training Chemical EOR were Screening Polymer and Surfactant Formulation, carried out intensively at the EOR Laboratory ITB. Participants not only learned the theoretical foundations but also conducted a series of comprehensive laboratory tests to evaluate the performance of chemical EOR under various reservoir conditions.

Figure 1. Training participants listening to the instructor’s explanation of Chemical EOR at Lab EOR ITB

Training Details

  1. Screening Polymer

In this session, participants conducted several key tests to assess polymer performance, including:

  • Fluid–Fluid Compatibility Test: viscosity measurement, polymer–water compatibility, filtration ratio, screen factor, and thermal stability test
  • Rock–Fluid Compatibility Test: static adsorption test, dynamic adsorption test and IPV, as well as injectivity test (RF and RRF)
  • Coreflood Test: the test of tertiary oil recovery to evaluate the potential improvement of oil recovery
Figure 2. Surfactant testing session: participants engaged in an interactive discussion with the instructor on laboratory testing methods

2. Surfactant Formulation Lab Test

This session focused on surfactant formulation under various laboratory conditions, including:

  • Fluid–Fluid Compatibility Test: uji kompatibilitas surfaktan dengan air, IFT test, phase behavior test, IFT thermal stability test, and filtration test
  • Rock–Fluid Compatibility Test: wettability test, static adsorption test, dynamic adsorption test, and capillary desaturation curves (CDC) test
  • Coreflood Test: the test of tertiary oil recovery test to evaluate the effectiveness of surfactants in mobilizing residual oil.
Figure 3. Laboratory practice session: participants conducting direct fluid–rock compatibility testing

Through this series of tests, participants gained hands-on experience in CEOR laboratory evaluations using methods applied globally in the oil and gas industry. This further strengthens the position of Lab EOR ITB as a research and training center equipped with facilities and expertise capable of addressing the real needs of Indonesia’s petroleum industry.

Training Participants

This training was attended by professionals from various national oil and gas companies, namely:

  • Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) – including PHE OSES, PHE ONWJ, and PHE SHU SDRE
  • Pertamina EP (PEP) – including PEP Zone 7
  • Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM)
  • Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PHR)
  • Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI)
Figure 4. Group photo of Hands-on Laboratory Training Chemical EOR participants at Lab EOR ITB.
Figure 5. Chemical EOR training participants at the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, ITB.

Impact and Benefits

Through this hands-on experience, participants not only enhanced their technical skills, but also gained strategic insights to support increased recovery factor and the sustainability of Indonesia’s energy sector.

With complete laboratory facilities and the support of experienced experts, Lab EOR ITB together with OGRINDO are ready to become strategic partners for the oil and gas industry in developing and implementing Enhanced Oil Recovery technologies in Indonesia.

This training is a tangible form of collaboration between OGRINDO ITB and Lab EOR ITB in strengthening human resource capacity in the oil and gas sector. It provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of Chemical EORimplementation, from laboratory scale to field applications.

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OGRINDO ITB Research Breakthrough: Combination of Surfactant & Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles, Enhances Oil Recovery in Sandstone Reservoir

Research breakthrough by OGRINDO ITB on enhancing oil recovery in sandstone using surfactant and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Innovation in technology Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) continues to evolve to address production challenges in mature oil fields. One of the current approaches gaining attention from researchers is the utilization of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles to improve surfactant performance in oil recovery processes, particularly in sandstone.

A research team from OGRINDO ITB recently published their latest research findings in a scientific article titled:
“Enhancement of Surfactant Performance via Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Implication for Oil Recovery in Sandstone.”

🌟 What Makes This Research Special?

Surfactant alkyl ethoxy carboxylate (AEC) surfactant is one of the chemical agents commonly used in EOR methods. However, the OGRINDO team went further by exploring how the addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles to AEC could drastically alter the system’s performance. Comprehensive testing was conducted, covering:

  • Interfacial tension
  • Contact angle
  • Zeta potential
  • Coreflooding test

State of the Art

The latest innovation in this research is the evaluation of AEC surfactant performance by adding TiO₂ nanoparticles within a concentration range of 0%–0.05% w/w.

The addition of 0.05% w/w TiO₂ nanoparticles to 1.25% w/w AEC surfactant was able to reduce interfacial tension to a value of 5.85 × 10⁻⁵ mN/m. This excellent performance was also confirmed in the coreflooding,, where oil recovery increased to a maximum value of 59.52%.

This finding highlights the importance of TiO₂ nanoparticle stability in surfactant solutions, which turns out to be the key factor in enhancing oil recovery efficiency.

Figure 1: Contact angles of all tested solutions on the Berea sandstone thin section. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the measurements
Figure 2: Effect of TiO₂ nanoparticle addition to AEC surfactant on interfacial tension (adapted from Megayanti et al. (2023))

Why Is This Important?

This research provides valuable new insights into the development of surfactant- and nanoparticle-based EOR methods. With this approach, it is expected to open new opportunities for improving oil recovery efficiency from sandstone reservoir — especially in fields that have experienced production decline.

This discovery also strengthens OGRINDO’s position as a leading EOR research center in Indonesia, focusing on the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable technologies tailored to national industry needs.

📚 Read the full journal click here

🌐 Explore More of Our Flagship Research

Visit the complete list of OGRINDO ITB scientific publications to explore our breakthroughs in Enhanced Oil Recovery, CO₂, hydrogen, and other energy transition technologies: 👉 OGRINDO ITB Scientific Publications

Through research, collaboration, and innovation, OGRINDO ITB is committed to being at the forefront of supporting national and global energy transformation.

Let’s create a smarter and more sustainable energy future — together with OGRINDO.

🙏 Acknowledgement

The researchers express their gratitude to Oil and Gas Recovery for Indonesia (OGRINDO) ITB and the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) ITB for access to the experimental equipment used in this study.

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Surfactant EOR: An Efficient Solution for Optimizing Oil and Gas Production

Diagram showing the fundamental mechanisms of surfactant in Enhanced Oil Recovery, including interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration, and microemulsion formation

In the oil and gas industry, understanding the fundamental concepts of surfactants is key to developing technologies that are not only efficient but also environmentally friendly and economically viable. Surfactants are far more than ordinary chemical compounds—they play a strategic role in various applications, particularly in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

Surfactant is surface active agent—a chemical compound capable of reducing surface tension between two phases: water and oil. A surfactant molecule consists of two main parts:
• A hydrophilic “head” (attracted to the water phase)
• A hydrophobic “tail” (attracted to the oil phase)

This structure allows surfactants to function as interfacial tension reducers between oil and water, microemulsion formers (emulsifiers), and wetting agents.

Mechanism of Surfactant for Optimal Oil Recovery
Effects of surfactant application on reservoir rocks

Why Choosing the Right Surfactant Matters
There is no one-size-fits-all surfactant for every reservoir. Selection must be tailor-made to match the specific conditions of each reservoir. Factors such as salinity, temperature, rock type, and crude oil characteristics significantly influence surfactant performance in enhancing oil recovery. Therefore, choosing and formulating the right surfactant is critical to optimizing production and reducing operational costs.

OGRINDO and Surfactant Research
As a company rooted in petroleum engineering expertise, OGRINDO (Oil and Gas Recovery for Indonesia) has in-depth competence in the research, development, and application of surfactant technology in the energy sector. We are committed to delivering science-based solutions that are lab-proven and field-tested. Our focus lies in creating efficient, environmentally friendly solutions—including the development of locally sourced surfactants that support Indonesia’s energy independence.

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A research consortium under Petroleum Engineering ITB focused on advancing oil and gas recovery technologies and supporting the energy transition in Indonesia

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