Effect of organic acid chain length on foam performance in a porous medium

ABSTRACT

We have systematically studied the effect of organic acid chain length on surface dilatational properties and foam flow performance in a porous medium. Surface dilatational properties were studied by oscillating drop module (ODM). ODM results in deionized water show that sufficient long chain length of organic acid is an essential requirement for high surface dilatational modulus. While, to various salinities, surfactant to acid ratio of achieving high surface dilatational modulus varies. Foam flow tests show that surface dilatational modulus has decisive effect on produced foam size, which partially determines foam flow pressure drop. Both surface dilatational modulus and surface tension determine foam flow pressure drop. Besides, surface loss modulus also contributes to pressure drop. Bulk foam tests show that addition of organic acids with proper chain length can enhance foam tolerance to oil significantly. Compared with alkane chain length, acid with longer chain has good ability in stabilizing foam. At last, foam flooding tests show that surface dilatational modulus and foam tolerance to oil play important roles in foam enhanced oil recovery.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Foam performance
• organic acid
• porous media

Additional information

Funding

Financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (numbers 51574266 and 51474234), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (numbers ZR2011EEQ001, ZR2012EEM007), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (number 14CX06088A), and ‘‘Innovation project of China University of Petroleum’’ (number YCX2015012) is gratefully acknowledged.