Synthesis of hexadecylbenzene sulfonate and its application in alkali-free flooding systems

Abstract

Hexadecylbenzene sulfonate was synthesized using aluminum trichloride catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction with hexadecyl linear internal olefin to benzene, sulfonated by chlorosulfonic acid, and neutralized with sodium hydroxide. The structure of the synthesized hexadecylbenzene sulfonate was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. Surfactant mixtures were formulated by the synthesized hexadecylbenzene sulfonate and Kelamayi petroleum sulfonate. The results showed that the surfactant mixtures could reduce the interfacial tension to ultra-low values in the presence as well as the absence of polymer, at a very low concentration. The surfactant/polymer systems had a good thermal stability. The recovery factor was 59.85 % of original oil in place when the surfactant/polymer slug size was 0.3 pore volume of the core, compared with 45.59 % in case of water flood.