Investigating the effect of [C8Py][Cl] and [C18Py][Cl] ionic liquids on the water/oil interfacial tension by considering Taguchi method

Abstract

Abstract Capillary and interfacial forces are of great influences of trapping hydrocarbon in porous media after primary and secondary recovery processes. The trapped crude oil in the reservoir can be mobilized and produced by reducing these forces. Thus, surfactant flooding, as a main enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method, is usually applied to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) of crude oil–water system in porous medium and improves the oil recovery. This study focused on the effect of [C8Py][Cl] and [C18Py][Cl] ionic liquids (ILs), as a new family of surfactant, in combination with various salts including sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and potassium sulfate on IFT reduction. EOR injection solutions were prepared from mixing the ILs at different concentrations of 100, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm with the salts ranging from 500 to 80,000 ppm. Obtained results showed that the minimum IFT value from both ILs was achieved when the concentration of the ILs was about 1000 g/mL, and the concentrations of KCl, K2SO4, MgSO4 and NaCl were 1000, 2000, 500 and 80,000 ppm, respectively. The minimum IFTs were achieved when NaCl and ILs concentrations were the maximum and MgSO4 concentration was the minimum.

Keywords

• Water injection
• CEOR
• Ionic liquids
• Surfactant
• IFT
• Taguchi method