Performance of SLS Surfactant with Imbibition Methode: Literature Review

Abstract

Surfactant is one of the injection fluids in the EOR process to increase the remaining oil production in the reservoir. One type of surfactant used is a lignosulfonate surfactant based on lignin. This lignin is found in bagasse, which is obtained by hydrolysis and sulfonation processes so that it becomes a lignosulfonate surfactant product, and is known as Sodium Ligno Sulfonate (SLS). The injection of surfactant solutions into reservoirs has developed in recent years. Although field data is still lacking, most of the laboratory research has given birth to new theories. The performance of a surfactant can be influenced by the IFT value. The IFT value depends on the size and wettability characteristics of the reservoir matrix, gravity can play a role and the rock matrix. To determine the recovery factor of an oil, an imbibition test can be carried out using a particular reservoir of crude oil samples. Based on the literature review, surfactant injection in the reservoir can produce different recovery factor values. Based on the imbibition test, the qualitative wettability test (two-phase separation test and flotation test) showed that the injection of surfactin and STEOL CS-330 could produce different RF. Based on the results of the imbibition test with several rock samples that have fairly good porosity and permeability, it produces varying RF values, the highest value is 1 ml and the lowest is 0.05 ml. Good results as in samples number 23D, number 29D, and 32B, were obtained at different concentrations, possibly due to the swelling clay which resulted in the closure of the porosity and permeability of the rock, it could also be due to a less homogeneous solution.