Experimental investigation of anionic and cationic surfactants performance in clay-rich sandstones

Experimental investigation of anionic and cationic surfactants performance in clay-rich sandstones

Abstract Enhancing oil recovery in clay-rich sandstone formations presents challenges such as low interfacial tension (IFT) and poor fine migration control, which severely impact permeability and recovery efficiency. This study introduces a novel sequential injection strategy using cationic (CTAB) a...

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Main Authors: Chongtian Wu, Zahraa Sabah Ghnim, M. Sudhakara Reddy, Girish Chandra Sharma, Haider Radhi Saud, Debasish Shit, Sachin Jaidka, Pushpa Negi Bhakuni, Ayat Hussein Adhab, Morug Salih Mahdi, Aseel Salah Mansoor, Usama Kadem Radi, Nasr Saadoun Abd, Vahid Lavga, Khursheed Muzammil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
CTAB
SDS
Recovery factor
Interfacial tension
Contact angle
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10644-4
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Summary:Abstract Enhancing oil recovery in clay-rich sandstone formations presents challenges such as low interfacial tension (IFT) and poor fine migration control, which severely impact permeability and recovery efficiency. This study introduces a novel sequential injection strategy using cationic (CTAB) and anionic (SDS) surfactants, leveraging their complementary mechanisms to address these limitations. The systematic investigation reveals how CTAB’s fine-stabilizing properties, followed by SDS’s superior IFT-reducing capabilities, optimize oil recovery in clay-rich sandstones. Zeta potential analysis revealed significant charge alterations (+ 12 mV for CTAB and − 43 mV for SDS), indicating stabilization of clay particles by CTAB and enhanced particle dispersion by SDS. IFT measurements demonstrated substantial reductions from 43 mN/m in brine to 1 mN/m and 1.2 mN/m for CTAB and SDS, respectively, while contact angle tests confirmed CTAB and SDS reduced the hydrophobicity of oil-aged sandstone surfaces, decreasing contact angles from 125° to 91° and 93°, respectively, after 28 days of exposure. In core flooding experiments, permeability improved significantly with CTAB (65 md), while sequential surfactant injection yielded a peak recovery factor (RF) of 81%, surpassing individual brine injections (53%). These findings represent a novel approach to enhancing oil recovery by systematically linking physicochemical properties to dynamic reservoir processes, offering critical insights into fines migration control, wettability alteration, and EOR optimization.
ISSN:2045-2322

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