Abstract
Alcohol additives were found to improve alkaline flood performance under certain conditions. Only crude oils that emulsified during alkaline flooding were more efficiently recovered with alcohol. Improved recovery with alcohol was attributed to modification of emulsion characteristics. Alcohol additives reduced emulsion viscosities and accelerated emulsion coalescence rates, which improved oil bank stability and promoted oil recovery. Oil recovery efficiency was affected by the chemical structure of the alcohol. Oil recovery generally improved with increasing molecular weight from methanol to butanol and then decreased for the less water soluble pentanol isomers. Alcohol additives were found to affect the interfacial shear viscosities (IFSV) and interfacial tensions (IFT) of crude oil/alkaline water systems. Improvements in recovery efficiency was found to correspond directly to reduced IFSV. Poor recovery was also related to elevated interfacial tensions.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
