Synthesis of Internal Olefin Sulfonate and its Application in Oil Recovery

Abstract

Hexadecyl internal olefin sulfonate was synthesized using sulfur trioxide and internal olefin by sulfonation reaction. The internal olefin sulfonate was characterized by FT-IR and MS methods. Surfactant mixtures were formulated by internal olefin sulfonate and octadecyl hydroxysulfobetaine. It was found that the surfactant mixtures could lower the transient interfacial tension to ultra low values in the presence as well as the absence of polymer. Injection of 0.3 PV (pore volume) of the formulated slug followed by chase water, 15.15 % incremental recovery was obtained over water flood, accomplishing a final oil recovery of 64.78 % original-oil-in place.