Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir
An advanced enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method was investigated, employing a surfactant–polymer (SP) system in combination with a viscosity reducer for application in a heavy oil reservoir within the Haiwaihe Block, Liaohe Oilfield, in China. Significant advantages were observed through the combinat...
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2025-02-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/756 |
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| author | Xiaoran Chen Qingfeng Hou Yifeng Liu Gaohua Liu Hao Zhang Haojie Sun Zhuoyan Zhu Weidong Liu |
| author_facet | Xiaoran Chen Qingfeng Hou Yifeng Liu Gaohua Liu Hao Zhang Haojie Sun Zhuoyan Zhu Weidong Liu |
| author_sort | Xiaoran Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An advanced enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method was investigated, employing a surfactant–polymer (SP) system in combination with a viscosity reducer for application in a heavy oil reservoir within the Haiwaihe Block, Liaohe Oilfield, in China. Significant advantages were observed through the combination of LPS-3 (an anionic surfactant) and OAB (a betaine surfactant) in reducing interfacial tension and enhancing emulsion stability, with the optimal results achieved at the ratio of 9:1. The BRH-325 polymer was found to exhibit superior viscosity enhancement, temperature resistance, and long-term stability. Graphene nanowedges were utilized as a viscosity reducer, leading to a viscosity reduction in heavy oil of 97.43%, while stability was maintained over a two-hour period. The efficacy of the combined system was validated through core flooding experiments, resulting in a recovery efficiency improvement of up to 32.7%. It is suggested that the integration of viscosity reduction and SP flooding could serve as a promising approach for improving recovery in mature heavy oil reservoirs, supporting a transition toward environmentally sustainable, non-thermal recovery methods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06b84bc194ca4ff4aa4154c32b7b57c4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-06b84bc194ca4ff4aa4154c32b7b57c42025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-0118375610.3390/en18030756Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured ReservoirXiaoran Chen0Qingfeng Hou1Yifeng Liu2Gaohua Liu3Hao Zhang4Haojie Sun5Zhuoyan Zhu6Weidong Liu7School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), Beijing 100083, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), Beijing 100083, ChinaPetroChina Liaohe Oilfield Company, Panjin 124010, ChinaCollege of Safety and Ocean Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Safety and Ocean Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), Beijing 100083, ChinaInstitute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, ChinaAn advanced enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method was investigated, employing a surfactant–polymer (SP) system in combination with a viscosity reducer for application in a heavy oil reservoir within the Haiwaihe Block, Liaohe Oilfield, in China. Significant advantages were observed through the combination of LPS-3 (an anionic surfactant) and OAB (a betaine surfactant) in reducing interfacial tension and enhancing emulsion stability, with the optimal results achieved at the ratio of 9:1. The BRH-325 polymer was found to exhibit superior viscosity enhancement, temperature resistance, and long-term stability. Graphene nanowedges were utilized as a viscosity reducer, leading to a viscosity reduction in heavy oil of 97.43%, while stability was maintained over a two-hour period. The efficacy of the combined system was validated through core flooding experiments, resulting in a recovery efficiency improvement of up to 32.7%. It is suggested that the integration of viscosity reduction and SP flooding could serve as a promising approach for improving recovery in mature heavy oil reservoirs, supporting a transition toward environmentally sustainable, non-thermal recovery methods.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/756heavy oilviscosity reductionenhanced oil recoverypolymersurfactant |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoran Chen Qingfeng Hou Yifeng Liu Gaohua Liu Hao Zhang Haojie Sun Zhuoyan Zhu Weidong Liu Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir Energies heavy oil viscosity reduction enhanced oil recovery polymer surfactant |
| title | Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir |
| title_full | Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir |
| title_short | Experimental Study on Surfactant–Polymer Flooding After Viscosity Reduction for Heavy Oil in Matured Reservoir |
| title_sort | experimental study on surfactant polymer flooding after viscosity reduction for heavy oil in matured reservoir |
| topic | heavy oil viscosity reduction enhanced oil recovery polymer surfactant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/756 |
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