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Adsorption–Desorption of Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery

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Abstract

Surfactant loss due to adsorption on the porous medium of an oil reservoir is a major concern in enhanced oil recovery. Surfactant loss due to adsorption on the reservoir rock weakens the effectiveness of the injected surfactant in reducing oil–water interfacial tension (IFT) and making the process uneconomical. In this study, surfactant concentrations in the effluent of the corefloods and oil–water IFT were determined under different injection strategies. It was found that in an extended waterflood following a surfactant slug injection, surfactant desorbed in the water phase. This desorbed surfactant lasted for a long period of the waterflood. The concentration of the desorbed surfactant in the extended waterflood was very low but still an ultralow IFT was obtained by using a suitable alkali. Coreflood results show an additional recovery of 13.3% of the initial oil in place was obtained by the desorbed surfactant and alkali. Results indicate that by utilizing the desorbed surfactant during the extended waterflood operation the efficiency and economics of the surfactant flood can be improved significantly.

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  1. Department of Petroleum Technology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, 786004, India

    Subrata Borgohain Gogoi

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  1. Subrata Borgohain Gogoi
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Gogoi, S.B. Adsorption–Desorption of Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Transp Porous Med 90, 589–604 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-011-9805-y

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