How does the enzyme cause enhanced oil recovery in an oil wet system?
A6: A system that is dominantly oil wet has the major part of the surface covered by an oil film. When Stimuzyme D200® is introduced to such a system the enzyme molecules reaches the hydrocarbon film through the water phase and starts to interact with the hydrocarbon. This interaction is catalytic which means that the hydrocarbons are connected to the enzyme following a release from the enzyme. The release is causing small hydrocarbon droplets to agglomerate and form free droplets that are subject to follow the flow of displacing fluid. The enzyme adheres and releases new hydrocarbons until it reaches the solid surface. Then the enzymes form a membrane on the surface, causing a permanent change in wetting to enzyme-water wet. Since the enzymes are not consumed in this releasing reaction they are free to interact with new hydrocarbons.
