Low pH alkaline chemical formulations

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6805123

French, T R; Peru, D A; Thornton, S D

This report describes the development of a surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding system that is applicable to specific reservoir conditions in Wilmington (California) field. The cost of the chemicals for an ASP (alkali/surfactant/polymer) flood is calculated to be $3.90/bbl of oil produced, with 78% of that cost attributable to polymer. This research included phase behavior tests, oil displacement tests, mineral dissolution tests, and adsorption measurements. It was discovered that consumption of low pH alkalis is low enough in the Wilmington field to be acceptable. In addition, alkali dramatically reduced surfactant adsorption and precipitation. A mixture of NaHCO3 and Na2CO3 was recommended for use as a preflush and in the ASP formulation. Research was also conducted on the synergistic effect that occurs when a mixture of alkali and synthetic surfactant contacts crude oil. It appears that very low IFT is predominantly a result of the activation of the natural surfactants present in the Wilmington oil, and the sustained low IFT is primarily the result of the synthetic surfactant. It also appears that removal of acids from the crude oil by the alkali renders the oil more interfacially reactive to synthetic surfactant. These phenomena help to explain the synergism that results from combining alkali and synthetic surfactant into a single oil recovery formulation. 19 refs., 24 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC22-83FE60149
• OSTI ID: 6805123
• Report Number(s): NIPER-375; ON: DE89000724
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
INJECTION
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
PH VALUE
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
CALIFORNIA
FIELD TESTS
OPTIMIZATION
PRODUCTION
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMISTRY
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUID INJECTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INTAKE
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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USA
WATER CHEMISTRY
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production