Preface

Concerned with the existing oilfield production decline, the shortage of new oil reserves, and increasing world energy demand, the oil sector continues to search for economic and efficient techniques to enhance their oil recovery from the oil field using several EOR methods. Despite its high efficiency, widely acclaimed potentials, and limitations, the LSWF, hybrid, and nanotechnology applications have gained vast interest with promising future to increase ultimate oil recovery, tackle operational challenges, reduce environmental damage, and allow the highest feasible recoveries with lower production costs. This synergistic combination has opened new routes for new materials with fascinating properties. This book intends to provide an overview of some EOR technology such as LSWF, hybrid, and nanotechnology application in EOR processes.

This book contains seven chapters and it aims to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in EOR processes and technologies such as China Offshore Chemical EOR scenario, direct gas thickener, surfactant flooding, LSWF, hybrid EOR, CO2-EOR, and nanotechnology application in EOR. The seven chapters have been selected because they represent areas of EOR technology for which sufficient technical progress has been achieved to result in technological advancement.

I have enjoyed working with the authors of this book, who have been most diligent in preparing their chapters. I wish to thank them for their contribution, patience, and commitment in the process. Each chapter is designed to help the reader gain insight on the most important aspects of each topic.

On behalf of the authors, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to IntechOpen and Sara Bacvarova, Author Service Manager, for their support and to all the staff who have provided input, drafted, revised, and produced this book.

It is my hope that this book is used as a source of knowledge and technology, by all concerned about the better future of the oil sector and world energy supply demand.

> **Ariffin Samsuri** University of Technology Malaysia, Malaysia
