Application of commercial zwitterionic surfactants and ionic liquids to reduce interfacial tension and alter wettability in a carbonate reservoir

ABSTRACT

Interfacial tension (IFT) reduction and wettability alteration are major mechanisms to chemically enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) in carbonate reservoirs. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of different surfactants on IFT and wettability alteration. Four different surfactants including ionic liquids and zwitterionic surfactants, namely [C₁₂mim]Cl, TR-880, NX-2760, and NX-1510, were used in this study. Reservoir core samples, formation brine and crude oil from the Karanj oil field, located in Iran were used. The results showed that the tested surfactants are capable of reducing IFT significantly, changing the wettability to greater hydrophilicity, thus potentially facilitating oil recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemical EOR
• ionic liquid
• zwitterionic surfactant
• wettability
• interfacial tension

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge and show appreciation to the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marvdasht Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran and to Fars EOR Technologies Company, for the provision of the laboratory facilities necessary for completing this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Islamic Azad University [N/A];Fars EOR Technologies Company [N/A].