Exploring the Potential Application of Palm Methyl Ester Sulfonate as an Interfacial Tension Reducing Surfactant for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

As the petroleum industry is facing challenges to add more oil reserves in their book, greater emphasis has been placed on improving the ultimate recovery factor for oilfields. When the recovery from primary and secondary methods could not be improved further, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) generally will be sought as the last option. One of the techniques applied in EOR is known as surfactant flooding. Though surfactants are very effective for the incremental oil recovery, there are implications during the post-flooding process. EOR surfactants that derived from petrochemicals generally display negative effects towards the marine ecosystem. This initial study aims to evaluate the potential application of palm oil based methyl ester sulfonate (MES) as a possible candidate for EOR application. Three qualitative and quantitative tests were performed on MES to evaluate its properties and capabilities for application in a specific offshore field. The results obtained from the qualitative compatibility and stability tests show that this anionic surfactant has great stability and compatibility with the brine solution as there are no visible signs of precipitation formation. However, the qualitative phase behavior test results indicated that the surfactant solution although has the ability to react with the crude oil but not at the required micro-emulsion state. In addition, the quantitative interfacial tension (IFT) test results also verified and supported the phase behavior test results where the strength of the MES was not adequate as a single surfactant system to achieve the ultra-low IFT state.

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Optimal Zwitterionic Surfactant Slug for an Improved Oil Recovery in Oil Wet Carbonate Rocks - Silurian Dolomite

Alberta Academic Review ◽

10.29173/aar40 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 27-28

Author(s):

Yosamin Esanullah ◽

Japan Trivedi ◽

Benedicta Nwani ◽

Madison Barth

Keyword(s):

Interfacial Tension ◽

Phase Behavior ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Carbonate Rock ◽

Zwitterionic Surfactant ◽

Fluid Analysis ◽

Tertiary Recovery ◽

Behavior Test

The increase in energy demand has led to extensive research and development on economically, environmentally and technically feasible ways of improving the ever-growing energy demand. A common derivative of energy is from hydrocarbons, specifically oil. The process of oil recovery can be divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary recovery (also known as enhanced oil recovery). Once the internal pressure of a reservoir has depleted enough during primary and secondary recovery, more advanced techniques in enhanced oil recovery mechanisms are used to recover 50-80% of oil in the reservoir. Tertiary recovery includes the use of surfactants to reduce interfacial tension (IFT) or alter wettability. In this work, a zwitter ionic surfactant at two different concentrations is evaluated for its ability to reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, as well as altering wettability in silurian dolomite. To achieve this, fluid-fluid analysis was done by a compatibility test, phase behavior test and interfacial tension measurements. Rock-fluid analysis was also completed by means of floatation test, carried out with carbonate rock particles to analyze the surfactant’s ability to alter wettability. Solution pH measurements were taken to validate the qualitative floatation test results. Results show that the surfactant, chembetaine C surfactant, is compatible with all ranges of salinities investigated, though was not able to produce a winsor type III micro-emulsion. The results of the interfacial tension measurements are in line with the phase behavior test, as none of the measurements were at ultra-low values. Surfactant retention is likely to occur with the analyzed zwitterionic surfactant based on the fluid-fluid analysis. Qualitative results from the floatation test show that the wettability of the carbonate rock particles cannot be significantly altered to more water-wet conditions. The pH of the solution remains at alkaline values, which can be beneficial in enhanced oil recovery in producing soap in situ, also known as saponification. Overall, tests conclude that this zwitterionic surfactant at 1% concentration would be most effective at 10,000 ppm salinity brine, though overall is not suitable for chemically enhanced oil recovery.

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How to Attain Ultralow Interfacial Tension and Three-Phase Behavior with Surfactant Formulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review. Part 4: Robustness of the Optimum Formulation Zone Through the Insensibility to Some Variables and the Occurrence of Complex Artifacts

Journal of Surfactants and Detergents ◽

10.1007/s11743-017-2000-6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 987-1018 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jean-Louis Salager ◽

Raquel E. Antón ◽

María A. Arandia ◽

Ana M. Forgiarini

Keyword(s):

Interfacial Tension ◽

Phase Behavior ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Three Phase ◽

Optimum Formulation ◽

Ultralow Interfacial Tension

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Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Surfactant from Palm Oil Methyl Ester and Vinyl Acetate for Chemical Flooding

REAKTOR ◽

10.14710/reaktor.21.2.65-73 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 65-73

Author(s):

Agam Duma Kalista Wibowo ◽

Pina Tiani ◽

Lisa Aditya ◽

Aniek Sri Handayani ◽

Marcelinus Christwardana

Keyword(s):

Methyl Ester ◽

Interfacial Tension ◽

Vinyl Acetate ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Mobility Control ◽

Wettability Alteration ◽

Polymeric Surfactant ◽

Chemical Flooding

Surfactants for enhanced oil recovery are generally made from non-renewable petroleum sulfonates and their prices are relatively expensive, so it is necessary to synthesis the bio-based surfactants that are renewable and ecofriendly. The surfactant solution can reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between oil and water while vinyl acetate monomer has an ability to increase the viscosity as a mobility control. Therefore, polymeric surfactant has both combination properties in reducing the oil/water IFT and increasing the viscosity of the aqueous solution simultaneously. Based on the study, the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of Polymeric Surfactant was at 0.5% concentration with an IFT of 7.72x10-2 mN/m. The best mole ratio of methyl ester sulfonate to vinyl acetate for polymeric surfactant synthesis was 1:0.5 with an IFT of 6.7x10-3 mN/m. Characterization of the product using FTIR and HNMR has proven the creation of polymeric surfactant. Based on the wettability alteration study, it confirmed that the product has an ability to alter from the initial oil-wet to water-wet quartz surface. In conclusion, the polymeric surfactant has ultralow IFT and could be an alternative surfactant for chemical flooding because the IFT value met with the required standard for chemical flooding ranges from 10-2 to 10-3 mN/m.Keywords: Enhanced Oil recovery, Interfacial Tension, Methyl Ester Sulfonate, Polymeric surfactant, vinyl acetate

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How to Attain Ultralow Interfacial Tension and Three-Phase Behavior with Surfactant Formulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review. Part 1. Optimum Formulation for Simple Surfactant–Oil–Water Ternary Systems

Journal of Surfactants and Detergents ◽

10.1007/s11743-013-1470-4 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 449-472 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

Jean-Louis Salager ◽

Ana M. Forgiarini ◽

Johnny Bullón

Keyword(s):

Interfacial Tension ◽

Phase Behavior ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Ternary Systems ◽

Three Phase ◽

Optimum Formulation ◽

Oil Water ◽

Ultralow Interfacial Tension

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How to Attain Ultralow Interfacial Tension and Three-Phase Behavior with a Surfactant Formulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery: a Review—Part 3. Practical Procedures to Optimize the Laboratory Research According to the Current State of the Art in Surfactant Mixing

Journal of Surfactants and Detergents ◽

10.1007/s11743-016-1883-y ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 3-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jean-Louis Salager ◽

Ana M. Forgiarini ◽

Miguel J. Rondón

Keyword(s):

Interfacial Tension ◽

Phase Behavior ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Laboratory Research ◽

Current State ◽

Three Phase ◽

Ultralow Interfacial Tension

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Effect of Baggase NaLS Surfactant Concentration to Increase Recovery Factor

Journal of Earth Energy Science, Engineering, and Technology ◽

10.25105/jeeset.v2i1.4648 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Arinda Ristawati ◽

Sugiatmo Kasmungin ◽

Rini Setiati

Keyword(s):

Phase Behavior ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Surfactant Concentration ◽

Recovery Factor ◽

Test Results ◽

Surfactant Flooding ◽

Middle Phase ◽

Basic Substance ◽

Surfactant Phase ◽

Behavior Test

Surfactant flooding may increase oil recovery by lowering interfacial tension between oil and water. Bagasse is one of the organic materials which contain fairly high lignin, where lignin is the basic substance of making Natrium Lignosulfonate (NaLS) Surfactant. In this research, bagasse based surfactant was applied for surfactant flooding. The research was divided into two sections, namely: phase behavior test and NaLS Surfactant flooding where the water contained 70,000 ppm NaCl. Two surfactant concentrations which were used were 0.75% and 1.5% NaLS surfactant. Phase behavior tests were carried out to find the middle phase emulsion formation. Based on phase behavior test results, the percentage of emulsion volume for 0.75% and 1.5% NaLS is 13.75% and 8.75%, respectively. NaLS surfactant flooding was performed for to obtain the best recovery factor. FTIR equipment used determine recovery factor. The optimum condition was obtained at 0.75% NaLS surfactant concentration where the recovery factor was 4.4%.

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The Potential Application of MnZn Ferrite Nanofluids for Wettability Alteration and Oil-Water Interfacial Tension Reduction

Crystals ◽

10.3390/cryst9120626 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 626

Author(s):

Nurul Afiqah Mohd Mokhtar ◽

Hoe Guan Beh ◽

Kean Chuan Lee

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Properties ◽

Interfacial Tension ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Potential Application ◽

Combustion Process ◽

Wettability Alteration ◽

Mnzn Ferrite ◽

Auto Combustion ◽

Oil Water

Recently, a non-invasive method of injecting magnetic/dielectric nanofluids into the oil reservoir was used for oil recovery application. The use of magnetic nanofluids in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) has been reported to improve oil recovery. It is believed that the magnetic properties of nanoparticles (NPs) have a direct influence on the viscosity and wettability of nanofluid, and on oil-water interfacial tension (IFT). Thus, Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (MnZn) ferrites may be a good candidate to be used in nanofluids for wettability alteration and oil-water IFT reduction due to their excellent magnetic properties, such as a high initial permeability and low magnetic losses. Therefore, this work investigated the potential of MnZn ferrite NPs to alter viscosity, wettability, and oil-water IFT. MnZn Ferrite NPs have been synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion process. The effects of calcination temperature varying from 300 °C to 700 °C on the phase formation, microstructures such as surface morphology, and magnetic characterizations were studied. MnZn ferrite nanofluids were prepared using synthesized MnZn NPs that dispersed into brine along with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) as a dispersant, and their effects on the wettability and oil-water IFT were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that MnZn ferrite calcined at 300 °C and 400 °C were single phase. The average crystallite size calculated through Scherrer’s equation differed from 32.0 to 87.96 nm. The results showed that the nanofluid with MnZn particles calcined at 300 °C is the best nanofluid in terms of IFT reduction and base nanofluid’s wettability alteration. Moreover, the overall results proved that nanofluid with MnZn ferrite NPs can alter the wettability of base nanofluid, oil-nanofluid IFT, and nanofluid viscosity. This study provides insights towards a better understanding of the potential application of MnZn Ferrite nanofluids to Wettability Alteration and IFT Reduction in Enhanced Oil Recovery.

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