Alkyl polyglycoside surfactant-alcohol cosolvent formulations for improved oil recovery
Stefan Iglauer, Yongfu Wu, Patrick J. Shuler, Yongchun Tang, William A. Goddard III
Abstract
We examine here the suitability of alkyl polyglycosides (APG) for improved oil recovery (IOR) applications. In recent years, these nonionic carbohydrate-based surfactants have become a significant commercial product (80,000 tons/year) with widespread use in household and agricultural products. Our laboratory study determined several characteristics of common APG surfactant formulations, in particular their capability to create low interfacial tensions (IFT) with n-alkane hydrocarbons. Our formulations included a wide range of alcohol cosurfactants with APG surfactants. We found APG–cosurfactant combinations that exhibit low IFT values of 0.01 mN/m or less versus n-octane. Our laboratory tests confirmed these APG formulations can provide useful IFT properties that are largely independent of both salinity and temperature. We report a coreflood test conducted on a Berea sandstone core using a selected formulation that exhibits oil recovery as high as 85% IOIP.
Group Members
Iglauer, S., Wu, Y., Shuler, P. J., Tang, Y., & III, W. A. G. (2009). Alkyl polyglycoside surfactant-alcohol cosolvent formulations for improved oil recovery. *Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects*, *339*(1-3), 48-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2009.01.015