Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement
In chemical flooding, emulsification and interfacial tension (IFT) reduction are crucial for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, the dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement remain underexplored. This study investigated the relationship between the em...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Energy Geoscience |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666759225000277 |
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| author | Yabing Guo Youqi Wang Zengmin Lun Maolei Cui |
| author_facet | Yabing Guo Youqi Wang Zengmin Lun Maolei Cui |
| author_sort | Yabing Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In chemical flooding, emulsification and interfacial tension (IFT) reduction are crucial for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, the dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement remain underexplored. This study investigated the relationship between the emulsification capability and IFT. Accordingly, the dominant performance parameter and the technical limits of surfactants were determined using oil displacement experiments. Specifically, an analysis of 74 sets of experimental results revealed a shift in the significant correlation between EI (a quantitative measure of emulsification capability) and σ at an σ value of 8.5 × 10−2 mN/m (i.e., critical value σc). For σ < σc, emulsification capability and IFT function as independent performance parameters. The oil displacement experiments using two surfactants with contrasting EI and σ values demonstrate that emulsification capability, rather than ultra-low IFT, is the dominant performance parameter. This study determined the technical limit of EI using oil displacement experiments via in-situ emulsification. The experimental results indicate strong correlations of EI with oil displacement and recovery efficiencies. The incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies were employed to quantify the potential of surfactants to enhance oil displacement and recovery efficiencies, respectively. The incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies versus EI curves revealed a critical EI (EIc) value of 0.53. When EI < EIc, the incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies increased significantly with EI. In contrast, when EI > EIc, their increasing rates slowed down markedly. Therefore, the technical limits of the emulsification capability and IFT of surfactants used in this study are determined at EI ≥ 0.53 and σ ≤ 8.5 × 10−2 mN/m, respectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90e80554414e464c8c876fd283571fc4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-7592 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
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| series | Energy Geoscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-90e80554414e464c8c876fd283571fc42025-08-20T02:33:12ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Energy Geoscience2666-75922025-06-016210040610.1016/j.engeos.2025.100406Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacementYabing Guo0Youqi Wang1Zengmin Lun2Maolei Cui3State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 102206, China; Research and Development Center for the Sustainable Development of Continental Sandstone Mature Oilfield by National Energy Administration, Beijing, 102206, China; Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing, 102206, China; Corresponding author.State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 102206, China; Research and Development Center for the Sustainable Development of Continental Sandstone Mature Oilfield by National Energy Administration, Beijing, 102206, China; Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing, 102206, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 102206, China; Research and Development Center for the Sustainable Development of Continental Sandstone Mature Oilfield by National Energy Administration, Beijing, 102206, China; Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing, 102206, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 102206, China; Research and Development Center for the Sustainable Development of Continental Sandstone Mature Oilfield by National Energy Administration, Beijing, 102206, China; Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing, 102206, ChinaIn chemical flooding, emulsification and interfacial tension (IFT) reduction are crucial for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, the dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement remain underexplored. This study investigated the relationship between the emulsification capability and IFT. Accordingly, the dominant performance parameter and the technical limits of surfactants were determined using oil displacement experiments. Specifically, an analysis of 74 sets of experimental results revealed a shift in the significant correlation between EI (a quantitative measure of emulsification capability) and σ at an σ value of 8.5 × 10−2 mN/m (i.e., critical value σc). For σ < σc, emulsification capability and IFT function as independent performance parameters. The oil displacement experiments using two surfactants with contrasting EI and σ values demonstrate that emulsification capability, rather than ultra-low IFT, is the dominant performance parameter. This study determined the technical limit of EI using oil displacement experiments via in-situ emulsification. The experimental results indicate strong correlations of EI with oil displacement and recovery efficiencies. The incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies were employed to quantify the potential of surfactants to enhance oil displacement and recovery efficiencies, respectively. The incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies versus EI curves revealed a critical EI (EIc) value of 0.53. When EI < EIc, the incremental displacement and recovery efficiencies increased significantly with EI. In contrast, when EI > EIc, their increasing rates slowed down markedly. Therefore, the technical limits of the emulsification capability and IFT of surfactants used in this study are determined at EI ≥ 0.53 and σ ≤ 8.5 × 10−2 mN/m, respectively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666759225000277Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)Chemical floodingEmulsification capabilityInterfacial tension (IFT)Technical limit |
| spellingShingle | Yabing Guo Youqi Wang Zengmin Lun Maolei Cui Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement Energy Geoscience Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) Chemical flooding Emulsification capability Interfacial tension (IFT) Technical limit |
| title | Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| title_full | Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| title_fullStr | Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| title_short | Dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| title_sort | dominant performance parameter and technical limits of surfactants for oil displacement |
| topic | Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) Chemical flooding Emulsification capability Interfacial tension (IFT) Technical limit |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666759225000277 |
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