Effects of temperature and salinity on adsorption in alkaline-surfactant flooding

Abstract

Alkaline-Surfactant flooding is one of the chemical flooding methods which are used to recover residual oil left after water flooding. By using a combination of alkaline and surfactant in the chemical formula, the interfacial tension (IFT) of oil/water is significantly reduced. However, surfactant adsorption on reservoir rocks is one of the major factors that may significantly reduce the effectiveness of an alkaline-surfactant flooding for oil recovery. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of temperature and salinity on adsorption in an alkaline-surfactant flooding. In this study, parameter that was changed is the salinity of the brine (25000ppm, 30000ppm, 35000ppm, 40000ppm, 45000ppm). The optimum salinities as a given concentration will be was obtained of the temperature (30°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C) on adsorption, surfactant IFT, residual oil recovery after water flood. The results of the study indicate that the residual oil recovery increases and surfactant adsorption will decreases as the temperature increases. The residual oil recovery decreases and surfactant adsorption will increases as brine salinity increases.