Alkaline-Free Surfactant Polymer Process for Heavy Oil

Abstract

Chemical EOR methods have become an increasingly attractive option for heavy oil reservoirs where thermal methods (such as SAGD) cannot be applied, like in thin reservoirs. Polymer flooding in heavy oil recently proved to be a viable recovery method. The use of surfactants for heavy oil is reported only in a limited number of cases and mostly in combination with alkali to benefit from the generation of in-situ surfactants. However, operational issues (such as scale or corrosion) associated to the use of alkali as well as negative impacts on project logistics are often reported. Objective of this work is to demonstrate at lab scale the efficiency of alkali-free surfactant/polymer process in the context of heavy oil reservoirs. The present investigation was focused on a Canadian heavy-oil (14°API and 1400 cP) in representative reservoir conditions (high permeability sandstone, temperature of 35°C, low salinity). A dedicated synthetic surfactant formulation was designed using a screening methodology based on a robotic platform. Ultra-low interfacial tensions were evidenced from phase behavior and confirmed by spinning-drop tensiometry. Oil recovery performances of the surfactant formulation were then evaluated in corefloods. Cores at Swi were first polymer flooded until no oil is produced to reach a pseudo-residual oil saturation. A surfactant-polymer formulation was then injected after the polymer flood. Results show that additional oil was produced as a continuous oil bank, corresponding to 90% ROIP. This indicates that the surfactant was able to mobilize most of the residual oil. The results of this exploratory investigation show that alkaline-free surfactant-polymer processes could be applied to heavy oil reservoirs while minimizing operational issues. Complementary work are also be presented on optimization of the process including injection strategy improvement and surfactant dosage reduction.

Application of Ultrashort Hydrophobe Surfactants with Cosolvent Characters for Heavy Oil Recovery

“…Reported issues of ASP flooding include insufficient injectivities caused by calcite and silica scales, which were attributed partly to the injected alkalis. , For example, Alberta Energy Regulator reported the scale plugging and injectivity problems in the ASP flooding projects in Taber South (Husky) and Suffield (Cenovus) . To avoid the problems of alkali injection, there are a limited number of laboratory scale experimental studies of SP flooding for heavy oil recovery. , They used self-assembled betaine surfactants and a mixture of olefin sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates, and alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates that created ultralow IFT microemulsions with their heavy oil without using alkali. , …”

“…25,26 Reported issues of ASP flooding include insufficient injectivities caused by calcite and silica scales, which were attributed partly to the injected alkalis. 27,28 South (Husky) and Suffield (Cenovus). 29 To avoid the problems of alkali injection, there are a limited number of laboratory scale experimental studies of SP flooding for heavy oil recovery.…”

“…29 To avoid the problems of alkali injection, there are a limited number of laboratory scale experimental studies of SP flooding for heavy oil recovery. 28,30 They used self-assembled betaine surfactants and a mixture of olefin sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates, and alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates that created ultralow IFT microemulsions with their heavy oil without using alkali. 28,30 ASP flooding may involve a large number of chemicals to be injected, which tends to make the implementation of ASP flooding more complicated and costly.…”

“…28,30 They used self-assembled betaine surfactants and a mixture of olefin sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates, and alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates that created ultralow IFT microemulsions with their heavy oil without using alkali. 28,30 ASP flooding may involve a large number of chemicals to be injected, which tends to make the implementation of ASP flooding more complicated and costly. Alkali-cosolventpolymer (ACP) flooding has been recently studied as a simpler alternative for heavy oils, in which only alkali and cosolvent were injected with no synthetic surfactant.…”