Influence of emulsification, interfacial tension, wettability alteration and saponification on residual oil recovery by alkali flooding

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) 2018, 59(0), , pp.286-296
• Main Authors: Saha, Rahul, Uppaluri, Ramgopal V.S., Tiwari, Pankaj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkali flooding; Interfacial tension; Saponification; W/O emulsion; Wettability alteration; 화학공학
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2017.10.034

[Display omitted] •Potential of NaOH to reduces interfacial tension and emulsify crude oil.•Quantification of naphthenic acid and extent of neutralization and saponification.•Effective formation of water in oil emulsion (W/O) resulting in higher oil recovery.•Wettability alteration from water wet to intermediate wet improves oil recovery.•Optimum slug size of 0.5 PV and cyclic injection pattern shows maximum oil recover. The current study examines the synergy of interfacial tension, emulsification, wettability alteration and extent of saponification during alkali flooding for light to moderate crude oil. The oil recovered in the effluent stream during NaOH flooding was analysed to observe the quality of water in oil (W/O) emulsion produced and the extent of saponification. Core flooding experiments showed higher oil recovery of 25.48% initial oil in place (IOIP) at 1wt% NaOH. Effects of slug volume and injection pattern during NaOH flooding experiments were also investigated. Further, contact angle changes the wettability from water wet to favourable intermediate wet.