Selection Method of Surfactants for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

Roland Nagy^1*, Rubina Sallai¹, László Bartha¹, Árpád Vágó²

¹Department of MOL-Hydrocarbon and Coal Processing, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.
²MOL Plc. Research and Business Development, Budapest, Hungary.

DOI: 10.4236/aces.2015.52013                

Abstract

Alternative energy sources have not yet presented suitable to meet the energy demand of the world; therefore crude oil will play furthermore an essential role in the energy consumption in the future. EOR is a challenging field for several scientific disciplines. The number of patents highlights the importance of this area. Most of the publications label that the target of the chemical processes is the reduction of IFT between the displacing liquid and oil phase. Based on the results in the last two decades the surfactants and flow modifier type polymers have shown more potential for a higher efficiency of the EOR than in any other methods. The aim of this work was to develop different surfactant testing methods that are capable to characterize the most important surfactant properties separately and to evaluate their combined or complementary effects. There was no correlation between the specific characteristics. But the weak correlation was detected by using the CE complex evaluation method. Further improvements could contribute significantly to improve the selectivity of the new experimental non-ionic surfactants for EOR applications.

Keywords

EOR, Method Development

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Thomas, S. (2008) Enhanced Oil Recovery—An Overview. Oil & Gas Science and Technology, 63, 9-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.2516/ogst:2007060
[2]	Gaillard, N., Giovannetti, B. and Favero, C. (2010) Improved Oil Recovery Using Thermally and Chemically Protected Compositions Based on Co-and Terpolymers Containing Acrylamide. SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 24-28 April 2010, Document ID: SPE-129756-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/129756-MS
[3]	Levitt, D.B. and Pope, G.A. (2008) Selection and Screening of Polymers for Enhanced-Oil Recovery. SPE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, 20-23 April 2008, Document ID: SPE-113845-MS.
[4]	Zhong, C, Luo, P., Ye, Z. and Chen, H. (2009) Characterization and Solution Properties of a Novel Water-Soluble Terpolymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Polymer Bulletin, 62, 79-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00289-008-1007-6
[5]	Schramm, L.L. (2000) Surfactants: Fundamentals and Applications in the Petroleum Industry. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
[6]	Myers, D. (2006) Surfactant Science and Technology. Wiley-Interscience, Hoboken.
[7]	Jeirani, Z., Mohamed Jan, B., Si Ali, B., Noor, I.M., See, C.H. and Saphanuchart, W. (2013) Formulation, Optimization and Application of Triglyceride Microemulsion in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Industrial Crops and Products, 43, 6-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.07.002
[8]	Nasr-EI-Din, H.A., Hawkins, B.F. and Green, K.A. (1992) Recovery of Residual Oil Using the Alkali/Surfactant/ Polymer Process: Effect of Alkali Concentration. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 6, 381-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0920-4105(92)90064-8