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Mixed surfactant systems for enhanced oil recovery

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6423639· OSTI ID:6423639

The results of an evaluation of mixed surfactant systems for enhanced oil recovery are described. Several surfactant combinations have been studied. These include alkyl aryl sulfonates as primary surfactants and carboxymethylated ethoxylated (CME) surfactants and ethoxylated sulfonates (ES) as secondary surfactants. The ethoxylated surfactants increase the salinity tolerance of the primary surfactants and, in theory, allow tailoring of the surfactant system to match selected reservoir conditions. The experiments conducted included interfacial tension (IFT) measurements, phase behavior measurements, adsorption and/or chromatographic separation of mixed surfactant systems, measurements of solution properties such as the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactant mixtures, and crude oil displacement experiments. The effects of temperature, surfactant concentration, salinity, presence of divalent ions, hydrocarbon type, and component proportions in the mixed surfactant combinations, and injection strategies on the performance potential of the targeted surfactant/hydrocarbon systems were studied. 40 refs., 37 figs., 8 tabs.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/FE
DOE Contract Number:
FC22-83FE60149
OSTI ID:
6423639
Report Number(s):
NIPER-497; ON: DE91002211
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English