1. n. []

An enhanced oil recovery technique in which a micelle solution is pumped into a reservoir through specially distributed injection wells. The chemical solution reduces the interfacial and capillary forces between oil and water and triggers an increase in oil production. The procedure of a micellar-polymer flooding includes a preflush (low-salinity water), a chemical solution (micellar or alkaline), a mobility buffer and, finally, a driving fluid (water), which displaces the chemicals and the resulting oil bank to production wells.

See related terms: alkaline flooding,  buffer,  chemical flooding,  micelle,  surfactant