Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Calcium Lignosulfonate on Adsorption Phenomenon in Surfactant Alternative Gas Injection

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

Chemical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Fractional flow analysis confirms the advantages of surfactant alternative gas injection (SAG) in enhanced oil recovery, but an adsorption phenomenon that has been affected by several factors, weakens the effectiveness of SAG injection. In this study, the effects of sacrificial agent, gas phase, and surfactant concentration on adsorption density on silica mineral were investigated by static and dynamic adsorption experiments. A series of SAG tests were performed to examine the effect of injection rates and presence of Calcium Lignosulfonate (CLS) on oil recovery. Also, variation of effluent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration during SAG test was examined. Spectrophotometric method based on the formation of an ion-pair was used in all experiments for determination of SDS concentration. The results of adsorption experiments show that SDS adsorption density on silica was reduced when nitrogen was imposed instead of using methane. It can be reduced with addition of CLS as sacrificial agents and amount of adsorption reduction increases as concentration increases. Flooding experiment results show that SAG injection increase ultimate recovery up to 10% in comparison with water alternative gas (WAG) injection. Increasing viscosity of gas phase and its trapping in porous media results a decrease in the mobility of gas and an increase in oil recovery. Stability of formed foam in porous media is rate-depended and higher SDS adsorption was observed at first cycle of SAG injection due to high solid/liquid interaction. Using CLS slightly increases the ultimate oil recovery, while it decreases the adsorption density of SDS about 22 percent during the SAG test.

Keywords

References

[1] Renkema, W.J. and Rossen, W.R. (2007). “Success of sag foam processes in heterogeneous reservoirs.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 110408.
[2] Grigg, R. B., Bai, B. and Iu, Y. (2004). “Competitive adsorption Of a hybrid surfactant system onto five minerals, berea sandstone, and limestone.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 90612.
[3] Syahputra, A. E., Tsau, J. S. and Grigg, R.B. (2000). “Laboratory evaluation of using Lignosulfonate and surfactant mixture in Co2 flooding.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 59368.
[4] Le, V. Q. and Nguyen, Q. P. (2008). “A novel foam concept with Co2 dissolved surfactants.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 113370.
[5] Gogoi, S. B. (2009). “Adsorption of non-petroleum base surfactant on reservoir rock.” Current Science, Vol. 97, No. 7.
[6] Tsau, J. S. and Eka Syahputra, A. (2000). “Economic evaluation of surfactant adsorption in Co2 foam application.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 59365.
[7] Liu, Y., Reid, B., Grigg, R. B. and Bai, B. (2005). “Salinity, Ph, and surfactant concentration effects on Co2-foam.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 93095.
[8] Shi, J.X. and Rossen, W. R. (1998). “Improved Surfactant-Alternating-Gas Foam Process to Control Gravity Override.” Spe 39653.
[9] Kloet, M. B., Renkema, W. J. and Rossen, W. R. (2009). “Optimal design criteria for sag foam processes in heterogeneous reservoirs.” Spe 121581.
[10] Turta, A. T. and Singhal, A. K. (1998). “Field foam applications in enhanced oil recovery projects: Screening and design Aspects.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 48895.
[11] Xu, Q. and Rossen, W.R. (2004). “Experimental study of gas injection in a surfactant-alternating- gas foam process.” Society of Petroleum Engineers.
[12] Blaker, H., Celius, K. and Lie, T. (1999). “Foam for gas mobility control in the Snorre field: the FAWAG project.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 56478.
[13] Song, F. Y. and Islam, M. R. (1994). “A new mathematical model and experimental validation of multicomponent adsorption.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, SPE / DOE 27838.
[14] Hirasaki, G. J. and Miller, C. A. (2005). “Surfactant based enhanced oil recovery and foam mobility control.”3nd Semi-Annual Technical Report.
[15] Somasundaran, P. and Zhang, L. (2006). “Adsorption of surfactants on minerals for Wettability control in improved oil recovery processes.” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.
[16] Liu, Sh. (2007). “Alkaline Surfactant Polymer Enhanced Oil Recovery Process.” A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Degree Doctor Of Philosophy, December.
[17] Ashuri, S. (2008). Scientific and international developments of upstream petroleum industry, Research & Technology Directorate Of Iranian National Oil Company.
[18] Moradi-Araghi, A. and Johnston, E. L. (1997). “Laboratory evaluation of surfactants for Co2-foam applications at the South Cowden Uni.” Society of Petroleum Engineering, Spe 37218.
[19] Daneshfar, A. , Arvin Pili, F. and Kaviyan, H. ( 2009). “Spectrophotometric determination of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate in wastewater based on ion-pair extraction with
safranine-O.” Semnan Journal Of Applied Chemistry.
Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Volume 45, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
December 2011
Pages 141-151

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 28 August 2011
  • Accept Date: 14 December 2011

Share

How to cite

Statistics