Author(s)

Ali Alarbah, Mohamed Shirif, Ezeddin Shirif

Petroleum Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In order to improve oil recovery, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques have been applied to several light and medium oil reservoirs. This research was directed towards the development of chemical flooding methods for such reservoirs. The main objective of this experimental work was to investigate the efficiency of introducing various types of Ionic Liquids (ILs), 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride [EMIM][Cl], 1-Benzyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride [BenzMIM][Cl], and Trihexyltetradecylphosphonium Chloride [THTDPh][Cl] on the Recovery Factor (RF) of medium oil (Weyburn oil, 30.25 API°) at room temperature. The series of flooding experiments were carried out by introducing a slug of IL mixtures. Results demonstrated that maximum oil recovery factor was obtained when [EMIM][Cl] was added in the displacing fluid. Further investigations have been conducted to examine the effect of ILs concentrations on the recovery mechanisms by measuring Surface Tension (SFT), pH, and viscosity of the displacing phases. Finally, the effect of theses ILs in wettability alteration was examined.

Ionic Liquids, Weyburn Oil, Weyburn Produced Water, Surface Tension, Wettability Alteration

Alarbah, A. , Shirif, M. and Shirif, E. (2019) Investigation of Different Ionic Liquids in Improving Oil Recovery Factor. Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, 9, 87-98. doi: 10.4236/aces.2019.91007.