Study of Enhanced Oil Recovery and Adsorption Using Glycerol in Surfactant Solution

Abstract

Over time, oil production in a reservoir tends to decrease, which makes it difficult to flow through the reservoir to the well, making its production increasingly difficult and costly. Due to their physical properties, such as reducing the water/oil interfacial tension, surfactants have been used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, however, their adsorption presents as an undesirable and inevitable factor and can decrease the efficiency of the method. This work’s main objective is to evaluate the effect of glycerol in the adsorption of surfactants in sandstones, as well as in the recovery factor during EOR. Brine solutions containing the nonionic surfactant saponified coconut oil (SCO), with and without glycerol, were used in the adsorption and oil recovery tests in sandstone. Adsorption, recovery, rheological, and thermogravimetric analysis were carried out. Regarding the surfactant/glycerol/brine solution, there was an improvement in the oil mobility, as the glycerol contributed to an increase in the viscosity of the solution, thereby increasing the sweep efficiency. The recovery factor obtained for the surfactant solution with glycerol was satisfactory, being 53% higher than without glycerol, because it simultaneously provided an increase in viscosity and a decrease in interfacial tension, both of which are beneficial for the efficiency of the process.

Impacts of a New Drilling Fluid Invasion on Electrical Resistivity and Acoustic Velocity Measurements

“…According to Jougnot et al, 16 the ensuing heterogeneities in solute concentrations result in significant anisotropy of the effective bulk electrical conductivity, particularly under partly saturated circumstances. Curbelo et al 17 studied the effect of glycerol in surfactant solutions, on adsorption, and in enhanced oil recovery. They used saponified coconut oil surfactant solutions with and without glycerol.…”

A review on polymer, gas, surfactant and nanoparticle adsorption modeling in porous media

“…Surfactant flooding reduces the interfacial tension and assists in oil recovery. However the adsorption of surfactant on the rock surfaces produces a challenge as the reduced concentration leads to a decrease in the EOR efficiency (Curbelo et al, 2020). Since surfactants account for a large part of the total cost of surfactant injection, their losses also lead to substantial economic losses (Belhaj et al, 2020).…”