Wettability modification, interfacial tension and adsorption characteristics of a new surfactant: Implications for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract

This paper concerns with the interfacial tension (IFT), wettability modification and adsorption behavior of a new plant-based surface active agent, Zizyphus Spina Christi, onto sandstone minerals which has been rarely attended in the available literature. Both kinetics and equilibrium adsorption data were obtained from batch mode tests. It was revealed that Freundlich isotherms matched better fit to the equilibrium data which implied that multilayer coverage of Zizyphus Spina Christi onto the sandstone particle surfaces was more likely to occur. Analysis of experimental kinetic data based on intraparticle diffusion model disclosed that the intraparticle diffusion mechanism is not the only rate limiting step and the boundary layer diffusion or surface adsorption also contributes to the rate-controlling step. The reservoir rock wettability modification was evaluated on sandstone-oil phase−water system by change of surfactant concentration, time and solution salinity. The results of this work help toward a clearer understanding the impact of various influencing parameters on the efficiency of a surfactant flooding project.