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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method of maximizing efficacy of surfactant in flooding water

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7093160
To minimize the adsorption of surfactant onto the reservoir rock, the salt concentration of the surfactant slug was varied. It was determined that the sodium chloride concentration in the surfactant slug should be reduced at least to less than 2 percent by weight or to one-half the saline concentration in the reservoir, if the second value would be lower. However, the salt concentration must be high enough to permit good oil recovery (i.e. permit low interfacial tension between the slug and oil). An aqueous buffer may be injected before and/or after the surfactant slug to protect it from excess brine (2 percent or greater) or divalent cations in the reservoir water or drive fluid. The buffer would have the same salt concentration as the slug.
Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp.
Patent Number(s):
US 3477508
OSTI ID:
7093160
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English