Enhanced oil recovery through in-situ generated surfactants augmented by chemical injection
Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to advance understanding and predictability in the successful application of the combined surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding for tertiary oil recovery. An experimental investigation of the buffered surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding system chemistry was undertaken to determine the influence of the various species present on interfacial tension and phase behavior. The minimum in interfacial tension and the region of spontaneous emulsification correspond to a particular pH range, so that by buffering the aqueous pH against changes in alkali concentration, low interfacial tension can be maintained when the amount of alkali decreases due to the influence of external factors, such as divalent ions, acids, rock consumption, and dispersion. Reflected light micro-interferometry study was conducted to observe stratification in thin liquid films (associated with emulsion and foam systems) formed from micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants, such as ethoxylated alcohols. We show in the case of micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants that the stratification which results in the enhanced stability of films (and therefore the colloidal dispersion) is very sensitive to temperature. A new microwave interference dielectrometer was developed for characterizing oil-in-water and water-in-oil macroemulsions. The apparatus is readily applicable to either on-line or laboratory measurements. The dielectric properties of macroemulsions in the microwave frequency region were analyzed using interaction potential models and effective medium theories. 151 refs., 60 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/FE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-85BC10847
- OSTI ID:
- 6687627
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/BC/10847-20; ON: DE90000253
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding for light oil recovery. Annual report, 1992--1993
Surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding for light oil recovery. Final report 1994--1995
Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BUFFERS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CAUSTIC FLOODING
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EMULSIFICATION
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INTERFEROMETRY
IONS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
PH VALUE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROGRESS REPORT
RECOVERY
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM IONS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING