Evaluating the Economic Viability of Locally Sourced versus Foreign Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Agents

The high cost of imported chemicals and foreign exchange volatility pose significant challenges to the deployment of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in the Niger Delta. This study evaluates the technical and economic viability of locally sourced EOR agents against foreign synthetic alternatives. The crude oil used was characterized as heavy, with a density of 0.931 g/cm³, an API gravity of 20.6°, and a high Total Acid Number (TAN) of 3.02 mg KOH/g. A comparative laboratory analysis was conducted using synthetic agents (NaOH, SDS, and Xanthan gum) against a locally formulated ASP slug consisting of wood ash (alkaline), Codiaeum variegatus (surfactant), and potato peel powder(polymer). Core flooding results showed that the foreign ASP slug recovered 6.4 ml of oil, while the locally sourced slug achieved a competitive recovery of 6.1 ml. However, economic modeling using a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) revealed a significant disparity. The foreign project was limited by a $100,000+ importation cost, yielding a BCR of 1.78. In contrast, the local ASP slug, utilizing waste-to-wealth materials and incurring zero importation duties, achieved a BCR of 4.06. This demonstrates that the locally sourced agents are 2.28 times more economically viable than imported alternatives, providing a sustainable and cost-effective pathway for enhancing heavy oil recovery in the Niger Delta.