Effect of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids on the Interfacial Tension of the Alkane–Water System and Its Influence on the Wettability Alteration of Quartz under Saline Conditions through Contact Angle Measurements

Abstract

Depleted matured reservoirs contain almost two-thirds trapped oil, which remains unrecovered even after primary and secondary oil recovery methods. Chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods involve the usage of chemical agents that improve the mobility of the residual oil by mechanisms involving alteration of wettability, viscous fingering reduction within the pay zone, and interfacial tension (IFT) between interfaces of fluids (oil/water) and rock, followed by reduced capillary forces during flooding. Chemical EOR methods need more research for high saline reservoir conditions. In this work, the effect of six imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) on the IFT of alkane–water systems and alteration of wettability of quartz surface was investigated as a function of IL concentration (0–10000 ppm) and temperature (288.15, 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K). Initially, the effect of the various ILs on the IFT of the alkane–aqueous IL system was studied and compared with the neat alkane–water system. Subsequently, synergistic behavior of the ILs + NaCl (0–200000 ppm NaCl) on the system of alkane–aqueous IL + NaCl was performed and compared with the alkane–aqueous IL system at zero salinity. Thereafter, the wettability alteration of quartz–alkane–aqueous IL and quartz–crude oil–aqueous IL systems, under both zero and high salinity conditions at 298.15 K at atmospheric pressure, was studied using contact angle measurements. The systems with IL showed an increase of contact angle exhibiting an alteration in the wettability from water wet to oil wet, whereas the systems under saline conditions showed a wettability from oil wet to water wet. A synergistic effect of ILs with salt on IFT reduction and wettability alteration has been detected. It is suggested that longer ILs could be a better option for EOR application.

Synthesis and application of hydrophilically-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles in oil sands separation

“…The shape of the water drop on the plate was captured by the camera of the tension meter, which was then analyzed to obtain the contact angle. 44 Every measurement was repeated at least three times for reproducibility.…”

“…The images were captured and analyzed by tting drop shape prole, obtaining the IFT. 23,44 2.6.2. Contact angle measurements.…”

Imidazolium based ionic liquid stabilized foams for conformance control: bulk and porous scale investigation

“…26,27 Recently, many researchers have explored the applications of ILs in several elds, such as, separation, de-emulsication, deasphalting, bitumen extraction, heavy oil upgradation, oil recovery on sandpack, oil-water interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration, etc. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] In the recent past, we have synthesized a large number of ILs from various families, such as, imidazolium, alkyl-ammonium, and lactam-based ILs, etc., and studied them for various applications such as, oil-water interfacial study, sludge dissolution, oil recovery on sandpack, wettability alteration, etc. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] It was noticed that the studied ILs had shown a great impact on the reduction of oil-water interfacial tension, wettability modication and thus improved the oil recovery.…”

“…[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] In the recent past, we have synthesized a large number of ILs from various families, such as, imidazolium, alkyl-ammonium, and lactam-based ILs, etc., and studied them for various applications such as, oil-water interfacial study, sludge dissolution, oil recovery on sandpack, wettability alteration, etc. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] It was noticed that the studied ILs had shown a great impact on the reduction of oil-water interfacial tension, wettability modication and thus improved the oil recovery. However, most of these studies were performed at the ambient condition with zero saline or low saline environment.…”

“…38,39 It is one of the essential and pre-requisite properties that are required for the EOR agent in order to boost the oil production. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Nonetheless, the interaction between the ILs and surfactants varies depending on many factors such as, type of charges, hydrophobicity, concentrations, structural orientation of ILs and surfactant molecules, etc. In general, the aggregation between ILs and surfactant tend to be instigated by the simple electrostatic interactions of cations and anions (catanionic: cation-anion) from both ILs and surfactants, such aggregates can even alter the surface activity of the combined solution.…”