Physicochemical aspects of microemulsion flooding

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 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-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-4583
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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