Alkyl polyglycoside surfactant-alcohol cosolvent formulations for improved oil recovery
We examine here the suitability of alkyl polyglycosides (APG) for improved oil recovery (IOR) applications. In recent years, these nonionic carbohydrate-based surfactants have become a significant commercial product (80,000 tons/year) with widespread use in household and agricultural products. Our l...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45689 |
| Summary: | We examine here the suitability of alkyl polyglycosides (APG) for improved oil recovery (IOR) applications. In recent years, these nonionic carbohydrate-based surfactants have become a significant commercial product (80,000 tons/year) with widespread use in household and agricultural products. Our laboratory study determined several characteristics of common APG surfactant formulations, in particular their capability to create low interfacial tensions (IFT) with n-alkane hydrocarbons. Our formulations included a wide range of alcohol cosurfactants with APG surfactants. We found APG–cosurfactant combinations that exhibit low IFT values of 0.01 mN/m or less versus n-octane. Our laboratory tests confirmed these APG formulations can provide useful IFT properties that are largely independent of both salinity and temperature. We report a coreflood test conducted on a Berea sandstone core using a selected formulation that exhibits oil recovery as high as 85% IOIP. |
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