Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery (EHR) otherwise known as "enhanced oil recovery" is a generic term for techniques for increasing the amount of hydrocarbons (oil, gas, condensates, coal-bed methane etc.) that can be extracted from a natural reservoir or field. Using EHR, 30-60%, or more, of the reservoir's original hydrocarbons can be extracted compared with 20-40% using primary and secondary recovery methods. The main reasons for increased EHR interest and activity include:

• Substantial strategic & market need to monetize stranded hydrocarbon reserves globally, minimize production declines, decrease production costs.
• Current crude oil prices place EHR technologies well "in the money".
• Immediate potential for much higher revenues & profits.

Advanced tertiary recovery methods being targeted include, but not limited to, CO2, nitrogen, microbes, chemicals and polymers.