Physicochemical aspects of microemulsion flooding

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1973 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6689381

Healy, R N; Reed, R L

Whenever water, an oil, and a surfactant equilibrate at concentrations of surfactant in excess of critical micelle concentrations, one or more microemulsions form. In view of this, all surfactant flooding processes may involve microemulsions in situ. Ternary diagrams have been constructed for 3 specific microemulsion systems showing the effects of salinity and cosurfactant on phase behavior, viscosity, resistivity, optical birefringence, and interfacial tension. Using these data, micellar structure maps were prepared for the single-phase region. In this connection, Winsor's concept of intermicellar equilibrium was found consistent with microemulsion systems of interest for tertiary oil recovery. Experimental techniques are described for minimizing extent of the multiphase region and measuring low interfacial tensions that obtain there. (21 refs.)

• Research Organization: Esso Production Res. Co.
• OSTI ID: 6689381
• Report Number(s): CONF-7309153-
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-4583; Conference: 48. meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 30 Sep 1973
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
MICROEMULSIONS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
OIL WELLS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
SALINITY
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
COLLOIDS
DIAGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EMULSIONS
FLUID INJECTION
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production