Ultra-Low Interfacial Tension Foam System for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

The liquid phase of foam systems plays a major role in improving the fluidity of oil, by reducing oil viscosity and stripping oil from rock surfaces during foam-flooding processes. Improving the oil displacement capacity of the foam’s liquid phase could lead to significant improvement in foam-flooding effects. Oil-liquid interfacial tension (IFT) is an important indicator of the oil displacement capacity of a liquid. In this study, several surfactants were used as foaming agents, and polymers were used as foam stabilizers. Foaming was induced using a Waring blender stirring method. Foam with an oil-liquid IFT of less than 10–3 mN/m was prepared after a series of adjustments to the liquid composition. This study verified the possibility of a foam system with both an ultra-low oil-liquid IFT and high foaming properties. Our results provide insight into a means of optimizing foam fluids for enhanced oil recovery.

Natural Ergot Alkaloids in Ocular Pharmacotherapy: Known Molecules for Novel Nanoparticle-Based Delivery Systems

“…On the basis of the presence and absence of charged groups present in the head region, these molecules are characterized as being ionic and non-ionic, respectively [ 101 , 102 ]. Ionic surfactants are further categorized as (i) anionic (negatively charged), (ii) cationic (positively charged), or (iii) amphoteric (possess both negative and positive charge), depending on the charge in their head group [ 103 ]. Among these, the property of amphoteric surfactants is pH-based and shows a positive charge with low pH and negative charge with high pH, with no charge at intermediate pH.…”

Effect of Ethylene Oxide Group in the Anionic–Nonionic Mixed Surfactant System on Microemulsion Phase Behavior

“…One of the approaches to addressing contamination by oil is surfactant flushing, particularly by surfactant‐based microemulsions. The trapped oil in the soil is removed through a microemulsion system formulated by the surfactant solution and oil and is associated with an ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) value (<0.01 mN m −1 ) (Liu et al, 2019; Rosen et al, 2005). The use of microemulsions is not only simple, but it is also cost‐competitive when the microemulsion formation is optimized (Agarwal and Liu, 2015; Cameselle, 2015; Rodriguez et al, 2014).…”

“…The surfactants become less water‐soluble; the oils are more effectively solubilized; and ultimately, a w/o microemulsion forms. Winsor Type III microemulsions can be attained with an ultralow IFT (<0.01 mN m −1 ): the middle phase, frequently a bicontinuous microemulsion, coexists with similar amounts of excess water and excess oil phases (Liu et al, 2019; Rosen et al, 2005). The optimal formulation occurs at the scanned variables, that is, salinity (for ionic surfactants) or temperature (for the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants) at which equal volumes of water and oil reside in the middle phase.…”

Soft Cationic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Production and Cytotoxicity of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs)

“…Surfactants are characterized by the presence or absence of charged groups in the head portion, being classified as ionic and non-ionic, respectively [9,10]. Depending on the total charge in the head group, ionic surfactants are further classified as (i) cationic, if positively charged, (ii) anionic, if negatively charged, and (iii) amphoteric, if presenting both a positive and a negative charge [11][12][13]. The behavior of amphoteric surfactants is pH-dependent, being able of depicting a net positive charge (cationic) at low pH, a net negative charge (anionic) at high pH, and null net charge (zwitterionic) at intermediate pH values [13].…”