Over time, oil consumption
has increased along with a continuous
demand for petroleum products that require finding ways to increase
hydrocarbon production more economically and effectively. So, enhanced
oil recovery technologies are believed to be very promising and will
serve as a key to meeting the future energy demand. This paper aims
to introduce an innovative method to boost the EOR by using two novel
types of surfactants synthesized from sulfonamide derivatives. Types
I and II surfactants were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy, and their characterization was further performed using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the
evaluation of these surfactants included interfacial tension measurements
at concentrations up to 0.9 wt %. The combination of types I and II
surfactants with alkaline (NaOH) was also investigated by the measurements
of interfacial tension. A series of coreflood and sandpack tests under
high-salinity conditions were carried out to assess the effects of
a surfactant alone and alkaline–surfactant as a combination
on improving oil recovery. The rock wettability was evaluated using
relative permeability saturation curves, and the oil displacement
efficiency was determined using fractional flow curves. The coreflood
results demonstrated that alkaline–surfactant flooding with
the chemical formula 0.2 wt % surfactant type II plus 0.5 wt % NaOH
achieved a higher oil recovery of 74% OOIP compared to surfactant
flooding with the chemical formula 0.5 wt % surfactant type II (64%
OOIP) and waterflooding (saline solution with a 35,000 ppm salinity:
48% OOIP). Moreover, the experimental results showed that under both
core and sandpack flood conditions, there was a noticeable reduction
in oil–water interfacial tension, a change in rock wettability
to more water-wet, and higher efficiency of oil displacement when
alkaline was added to the surfactant. Based on current research, the
alkaline–surfactant formulation is strongly recommended for
chemical flooding because of its high efficacy and relatively low
cost.