OIL AND WATER SEPARATION IN AN OIL RESERVOIR

摘要

The invention relates to a method and system for extracting oil from a reservoir using the electro-osmotic effect. The system comprises at least one pair of electrodes in the reservoir, wherein the or each pair of electrodes comprises a positive electrode (10) and a negative electrode (22) which are set a distance H apart within the reservoir and which are either side of an interface between a layer of oil and a layer of water in the reservoir. The system further comprises means for applying an electric field to the or each pair of electrodes and a controller to control the applied electric field whereby a distance h between the interface and one of the electrodes is controllable.