Comparative performance evaluation of modified red onion skin extract as surface active agents for tertiary oil recovery

ABSTRACT

Biomass-based recovery agents are fast becoming an innovative, novel solution to the increasing need for eco-friendly, cost-effective chemical agents as the need to cut production cost becomes imperative. Recent studies showed that certain natural materials if modified can suitably replace synthetic chemicals. Red Onion Skin Extract (ROSE) was chemically modified using furfuraldehyde (ROF) and urea (ROFU) and evaluated to determine its oil displacement efficiency at reservoir conditions by evaluating the fluid compatibilities. Two synthetic brine was formulated to replicate the formation of brine with divalent ions present. Compatibility test of the aqueous solution produced highly soluble, compatible fluids at varying temperatures. Type I microemulsion was observed in both surfactants. Sandstone core analysis was performed to ascertain how effective the individual modified derivatives are in recovering bypassed oil at reservoir temperature (90 °C) and pressure (9000 psi). An additional recovery of 22.7% OIIP and 11% OIIP was attained during ROF and ROFU flooding, respectively. The ROSE derivatives show good performance in displacing heavy oil even at reservoir conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Red onion skin extract
• surfactant flooding
• furfuraldehyde
• chemical enhanced oil recovery
• recovery factor

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support of the staff of Petroleum Engineering laboratory, Niger Delta University, Mr Chigozie Kalu, the laboratory assistant and the laboratory attendants at the Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, for their technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors contributions

OAA provided research conceptualization, bench work, preparation of draft manuscript, and data analysis. EIW provided data analysis and interpretation. VC provided data analysis and interpretation. UCD provided laboratory bench work. OA provided data analysis, interpretation, and final manuscript review. The final manuscript was read and approved by all authors.

Availability of data and material

All data were generated during this study as provided by the authors. This manuscript is an original novel research article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was carried out with the financial support of icipe-World Bank Financing Agreement No D347-3A and World Bank-Korea Trust Fund Agreement No TF0A8639 for the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund.

Notes on contributors

Amalate Ann Obuebite

Amalate Ann Obuebite, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Niger Delta University,Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Her research interests include Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery and scale inhibiton studies using natural, environmentally friendly, renewable materials as well as nanofluids. She currrently serves as a member of the University’s R&D committee and coordinator of the departmental research project for undergraduates.

William Iheanyi Eke

William Iheanyi Eke has a Ph.D in Industrial Chemistry. His research outputs includes the synthesis and evaluation of Cashew NutShell Liquid Derivatives as crude oil flow improvers and the development of novel surfactants for diverse oilfield applications. His focus is on the valorization of agrowastes specially sustainable conversion of biomass to chemicals.

Cynthia Victor-Oji

Cynthia Victor-Oji, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt. Her research interest bothers around the synthesis and application of agrowastes as demulsifiers.

Dominica Christopher Una

Dominica Christopher Una, Ph.D., is a researcher with research focus on the development of multifunctional oilfield chemicals using agrowastes.

Onyewuchi Akaranta

Onyewuchi Akaranta, Ph.D., is a renowned professor of Chemistry with over 30 years of research experience involving conversion of agrowaste into biobased chemicals. His recent research outputs are in the area of green biobased metal nanocomposites for corrosion inhibition, flow assurance and developing multifunctional chemicals using agrowastes.