Characterization of Surfactants as Steamflood Additives
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Steamflood efficiency can be increased by adding surface active agents to steam such that foam can be generated, can preferentially reduce permeability to steam in previously swept zones, and can divert the steam to undepleted regions of the reservoir. Even though the detrimental effect of oil on foam formation has been observed since the mid 1960's, most of the laboratory tests of surfactants as steamflood additives were performed with no oil present. In this study, a linear model was used to compare and characterize eight surfactants as steamflood additives at moderate temperature and pressure. The evaluation of foamability was based on pressure gradient changes and steam mobility reduction along the model. Two sets of experiments were run. In the first, no oil was present in the sandpack. In the second, West Newport crude oil was used at residual saturation after steam flooding. All runs were performed under the same operating conditions. Results from the first set of runs indicated that alpha olefin sulfonates generated the strongest foam. Flow resistance due t o foam increased as the alkyl chain length increased. Enrichment in disulfonate content enhanced the propagation speed of an alpha olefin sulfonate but reduced its foam strength. Significant steam mobility reduction was achieved for all surfactants tested. Relative permeability to steam was reduced t o between 0 .005 and 0 .0 2 when no oil was present. Temperature and pressure profiles indicated the formation of a nitrogen foam ahead of a steam foam. This proves that nitrogen can help stabilize and maintain foam as steam condenses away from the injection port. When oil was present, no increase in pressure gradient was observed for any of the surfactants tested.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | June 1990 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Hamida, Farid M. |
|---|---|
| Primary advisor | Brigham, William E. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Petroleum Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
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Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Hamida, Farid M. (1990). Characterization of Surfactants as Steamflood Additives. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/gb553yc6585
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
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