Surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding for light oil recovery. [Quarterly] report, March 31--June 30, 1993
The overall objective of this project is to develop a very cost- effective method for formulating a successful surfactant-enhanced alkaline flood by appropriately choosing mixed alkalis which form inexpensive buffers to obtain the desired pH (between 8.5 and 12.0) for ultimate spontaneous emulsification and ultra-low tension. In addition, the novel concept of pH gradient design to optimize flood water conditions will be tested. Last quarter we have investigated the mechanisms responsible for spontaneous emulsification in alkali/acidic crude oil systems with and without added surfactant. We have observed that the roll cell size and formation time depend strongly on the pH and ionic strength of the alkaline solution. For a particular roll cell size, the addition of surfactant causes the cells to take longer to form, causing an interfacial resistance to mass transfer and making the interface more rigid. We have shown that interfacial turbulence is a necessary but not sufficient condition for spontaneous emulsification. Low interfacial tension is also a necessary condition. This quarter a microwave interferometric procedure was developed for the determination of low water content (0. 5 to 10 vol%) of water-in-oil macroemulsions. The apparatus operates at a frequency of 23.48 GHz in the K-band microwave region. The procedure is based on the large differences in dielectric properties between water and oil, and it utilizes the variation in phase shift as sample path length is varied. Measurements are accurate to within 0.5 vol% water.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-92BC14883
- OSTI ID:
- 10176313
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/BC/14883-3; ON: DE93040008
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding for light oil recovery. Quarterly report, October 1--December 30, 1994
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Related Subjects
OIL WELLS
CAUSTIC FLOODING
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
WATER
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
MEASURING METHODS
OILS
PROGRESS REPORT
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
ENHANCED RECOVERY
SURFACTANTS
EMULSIONS
INTERFEROMETRY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BUFFERS
020300
DRILLING AND PRODUCTION