Competing roles of interfacial tension and surfactant equivalent weight in the development of a chemical flood

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/8898-PA· OSTI ID:6063070

Enedy, S L; Faroug Ali, S M; Stahl, C D

This investigation focused on developing an efficient chemical flooding process by use of dilute surfactant/polymer slugs. The competing roles of interfacial tension (IFT) and equivalent weight (EW) of the surfactant used, as well as the effect of different types of preflushes on tertiary oil recovery, were studied. Volume of residual oil recovered per gram of surfactant used was examined as a function of these variables and slug size. Tertiary oil recovery increased with an increase in the dilute surfactant slug size and buffer viscosity. However, low IFT does not ensure high oil recovery. An increase in surfactant EW used actually can lead to a decrease in oil recovery. Tertiary oil recovery was also sensitive to preflush type. Reasons for the observed behavior are examined in relation to the surfactant properties as well as to adsorption and retention.

• Research Organization: Union Oil Co. of California
• OSTI ID: 6063070
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. 22:4; ISSN SEAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360403 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Mechanical Properties-- (-1987)
ADSORPTION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
OIL YIELDS
POLYMERS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RECOVERY
SIZE
SORPTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS
WEIGHT
WELLS
YIELDS