Enhanced oil recovery through in-situ generated surfactants augmented by chemical injection

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6687627· OSTI ID:6687627

Wasan, D T

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 (United States)
• 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

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CAUSTIC FLOODING
CHEMISTRY
EMULSIONS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
BUFFERS
EMULSIFICATION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
INTERFEROMETRY
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MIXTURES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM SULFONATES
PH VALUE
PROGRESS REPORT
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM IONS
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VISCOSITY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFONATES
SULFONIC ACID ESTERS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WATERFLOODING
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production