Gemini surfactant/polymer/silica stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsions: Design and physicochemical characterization for enhanced oil recovery

Ali

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Mobilization of crude oil from the subsurface porous media by emulsion injection is one of the Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (C-EOR) techniques. However, deterioration of emulsion by phase separation under harsh reservoir conditions like high salinity, acidic or alkaline nature and high temperature pose a challenge for the emulsion to be a successful EOR agent. Present study aims at formulation of Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsion stabilized by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) using the optimum values of independent variables – salinity, pH and temperature. The influence of above parameters on the physiochemical properties of the emulsion such as average droplet size, zeta (ζ) potential, conductivity and rheological properties were investigated to optimize the properties. The influence of complex interactions of independent variables on emulsion characteristics were premeditated by experimental model obtained by Taguchi Orthogonal Array (TOA) method. Accuracy and significance of the experimental model was verified using Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that the experimental models were significantly (p < 0.05) fitted with main influence of salinity (making it a critical variable) followed by its interactions with pH and temperature for all the responses studied for the emulsion properties. No significant difference between the predicted and experimental response values of emulsion ensured the adequacy of the experimental model. Formulated optimized emulsion manifested good stability with 2417.73 nm droplet size, −72.52 mV ζ-potential and a stable rheological (viscosity and viscoelastic) behavior at extensive temperature range. Ultralow Interfacial Tension (IFT) value of 2.22E-05 mN/m was obtained at the interface of crude oil and the emulsion. A favorable wettability alteration of rock from intermediate-wet to water-wet was revealed by contact angle measurement and an enhanced emulsification behavior with crude oil by miscibility test. A tertiary recovery of 21.03% of Original Oil In Place (OOIP) was obtained on sandstone core by optimized emulsion injection. Therefore, performance assessment of optimized emulsion under reservoir conditions confirms its capability as an effective oil-displacing agent.

Section: Oil Recovery By Optimized Emulsionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and formulation of surfactant stabilized O/W emulsion for application in enhanced oil recovery: effect of pH, salinity and temperature

Ali

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…In the petroleum industry, the oil must pass through rock pores without becoming trapped. Therefore, developing solid-free pH-responsive nanoscale emulsions is more desirable than micron-scale emulsions [32][33][34][35][36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

pH-Responsive Nanoemulsions Based on a Dynamic Covalent Surfactant

Ren

et al. 2021

Nanomaterials

Developing solid-free nanoemulsions with pH responsiveness is desirable in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. Here, we report the synthesis of an interfacial activity controllable surfactant (T−DBA) through dynamic imine bonding between taurine (T) and p-decyloxybenzaldehyde (DBA). Instead of macroemulsions, nanoemulsions can be prepared by using T−DBA as an emulsifier. The dynamic imine bond of T−DBA enables switching between the active and inactive states in response to pH. This switching of interfacial activity was used to gate the stability of nanoemulsions, thus enabling us to turn the nanoemulsions off and on. Using such dynamic imine bonds to govern nanoemulsion stability could enable intelligent control of many processes such as heavy oil recovery and interfacial reactions.

“…The mechanisms of oil displacement were investigated in terms of wettability and interfacial activity. [40][41][42][43] Zhang et al investigated oil/water interfacial turbulence (the Marangoni effect) in NE to improve water ooding for heavy-oil recovery. This could help to remove and emulsify oil from oil sand.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and characterization of oil-in-water nanoemulsion for enhanced oil recovery stabilized by amphiphilic copolymer, nonionic surfactant, and LAPONITE® RD

Zhao

Peng

2021

RSC Adv.