The Effect of Surfactant Characteristics on IFT to Improve Oil Recovery in Tempino Light Oil Field Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Water injection has been employed in the Tempino oil field since 1996. The current oil recovery factor is 35% of OOIP. Even though the pressure is still high, the oil production rate has declined rapidly and the water cut is approaching 89%. In order to mobilize the oil from the reservoir more effectively, surfactant flooding is one of the solutions that can reduce residual oil saturation. Interaction between crude oil and compatible surfactant generates microemulsion, as an indication of low interfacial tension. Hence the oil is expected to move out of the pore throat easily. In this research, thirty types of surfactants were evaluated. The hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) was calculated and the interfacial tension (IFT) with the reservoir fluid was measured. HLB criteria were established as an indicator of low IFT, which was then tested for Berea core flooding. The results indicate that an HLB between approximately 2.7 and 3.1 (on Davies' Scale) or greater than 11.5 (on Griffin's Scale) gives low IFT (~10 -3 dynes/cm). This characteristic is possesed by surfactant ethoxy carboxylate with a linear hydrophobic structure. This surfactant produces a high incremental oil recovery according to Berea core flood tests. The AN2NS and AN3 surfactants recovered 90% and 86% of OOIP respectively.

Surfactant-Polymer Coreflood Simulation and Uncertainty Analysis Derived from Laboratory Study

“…The surfactants were pre-screened from dozens of surfactant samples. The surfactant screening method followed Swadesi, et al [20]. …”

Interfacial tension test analysis as injection fluid on reservoir core

“…IFT result on the previous research shows that the utilization of sugarcane bagasse SLS surfactant with similar concentration and salinity levels was able to generate stable IFT value of 4.501 mN/m for Fir wood SLS surfactant and stable IFT value of 6.6995 mN/m for sugarcane bagasse surfactant. IFT test results has proven that sugarcane bagasse NaLS surfactant and Fir wood surfactant was able to lower IFT value on sampled oil and formation water (without surfactant) with IFT value of 12.43 (mN/m) with formation water salinity of 8,110 ppm (Swadesi et al, 2015). Fir wood surfactant is able to lower IFT as much as 7.929 mN/m or 63.78% of the initial IFT value, meanwhile sugarcane bagasse surfactant is able to lower IFT as much as 5.6305 mN/m or 46.10% of the initial IFT value (Chattopadhyay & Webster, 2009;Kosmulski et al, 2004;.…”

“…The type of oil used in this research is intermediate crude oil. Interfacial tension test between crude oil and brine samples shows that IFT on oil with formation water (without surfactant) is at IFT = 12.43 (mN/m) with formation water salinity on the sample point at 8,110 ppm (Swadesi et al, 2015). Thermal stability test is conducted to acknowledge surfactant endurance against certain temperature level.…”

Study to improve an amphoteric sulfonate alkyl ester surfactant by mixing with nonionic surfactant to reduce brine–waxy oil interfacial tension and to increase oil recovery in sandstone reservoir: T-KS field, Indonesia

“…There is a correlation between chemical structure of surfactant and its physical properties (Fujimoto 1985). Swadesi et al (2015) conducted laboratory tests of various surfactants for Tempino field, and showed that surfactant with HLB between 11 and 12 has low interfacial tension of oil-brine, which was performed at total brine salinity 15,540 ppm. However, different oil and brine compositions should have a different optimum range HLB value.…”