Characterization of Microemulsion of Crude Oil Using Alkali-Surfactant Solution

Abstract

For the enhanced oil recovery, one of the most important factors is to determine the surfactant formulation in chemical flood. The objective of this study is to analyze the microemulsion formed between the alkali-surfactant (AS) solution and A crude oil for screening surfactants. The alkali-surfactant solution was manufactured by using the surfactant purchased from AK ChemTech. C16-PO7-SO4 and sodium carbonate solution were used as surfactant and alkaline, respectively. Both TEGBE and IBA were used as a co-solvent. The AS solution and A crude oil can form a Type III middle phase microemulsion at the salinity from 0.0 wt%~3.6 wt%. Increasing the salinity causes the phase transition of microemulsion from the lower (Type I) to middle (Type III) to upper (Type II) phase. Interfacial tension (IFT) values calculated by Huh's equation were in good agreement with ultralow IFT. According to this characteristic, the surfactant purchased from a domestic company can be applied to the enhanced oil recovery.