Abstract
The effect of divalent ions on the oil recovery efficacy of petroleum sulfonate surfactants was investigated. The oil recovery tests were conducted in unconsolidated model porous media composed of fine glass particles. It was found that tertiary recoveries effected by surfactant injection were consistently higher when the brine in the porous medium contained divalent ions. The results are explained by complete or partial pore blockage by precipitates formed when the petroleum sulfonate encounters divalent ions, which results in increased sweep efficiency. This conclusion is corroborated by the resukts of experiments in which a non-surfactant precipitate was formed in the porous medium during the flood.
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