Dynamic interfacial tension behavior between heavy crude oil and ionic liquid solution (1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C12mim][Cl] + distilled or saline water/heavy crude oil)) as a new surfactant

Abstract

Remaining oil after primary and secondary oil recovery processes is the target of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. One of an efficient EOR method is chemical flooding changes several parameters lead to higher oil recovery. One of the parameters can be manipulated by chemical flooding (injection) is reduction of formation brine/oil interfacial tension (IFT). During the past decades, several kinds of chemicals called surfactants have been used to change the IFT of water/crude oil system. The most limitation of these surfactants is their inability to tolerate harsh conditions of salinity (ions). In the present study, functionality of a new kind of ionic liquid-based surfactants, can tolerate harsh condition of salinity, was investigated by measuring dynamic interfacial tension of water/heavy crude oil system. In this direction, 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C12mim] [Cl]) was selected as an ionic liquid (IL)-based surfactant for the experiments and IFT measurements. The effects of salinity, NaCl concentration, temperature and concentration of IL on dynamic interfacial tension of IL solution (water+IL)/heavy crude oil system were examined. The experiments surprisingly revealed that presence of salinity leads to significant reduction of IFT of IL solution/heavy crude oil system. In addition, obtained results showed that IFT of the IL solution/heavy crude oil system was decreased as temperature was increased.