High Paraffinic-Naphthenic Oil Recovery Using Spacer-Assisted Surfactant on SP Chemical EOR Study

Abstract

Abstract. Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) has been stated as an efficient method to recover trapped residual oil in reservoir but it has many challenges on selecting and screening the chemical. Molecular phenomena should be reviewed due to complex interaction between chemical component in the system. Surfactant chemical structure corresponds to chemical interaction and EOR performance. This study evaluated the performance of spacer-assisted surfactant on preliminary screening and coreflooding test. Native crude oil 48.9 API, native produced water 17571 ppm, 9 surfactants and HPAM polymer has been used. Gradual laboratory test has been conducted during preliminary screening consists of phase behavior test, IFT test, CMC test and thermal stability test. The best surfactant combined with polymer then tested on high pressure high temperature coreflooding to know its oil recovery. Preliminary screening exhibits spacer-assisted surfactant has better compatibility, lower IFT, and good thermal stability. The best surfactant, Surfactant SA2028, recovered 33.92% IOIP 68.16% ROIP during surfactant flooding and 47.17% IOIP 94.79% ROIP when combined with polymer injection. This study confirmed spacer-assisted surfactant is a new potential topic on EOR surfactant synthesis and formulation to get better performance.