Applied Sciences (May 2019)

Ultra-Low Interfacial Tension Foam System for Enhanced Oil Recovery

  • Qi Liu,
  • Shuangxing Liu,
  • Dan Luo,
  • Bo Peng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app9102155
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 10
p. 2155

Abstract

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The liquid phase of foam systems plays a major role in improving the fluidity of oil, by reducing oil viscosity and stripping oil from rock surfaces during foam-flooding processes. Improving the oil displacement capacity of the foam’s liquid phase could lead to significant improvement in foam-flooding effects. Oil-liquid interfacial tension (IFT) is an important indicator of the oil displacement capacity of a liquid. In this study, several surfactants were used as foaming agents, and polymers were used as foam stabilizers. Foaming was induced using a Waring blender stirring method. Foam with an oil-liquid IFT of less than 10–3 mN/m was prepared after a series of adjustments to the liquid composition. This study verified the possibility of a foam system with both an ultra-low oil-liquid IFT and high foaming properties. Our results provide insight into a means of optimizing foam fluids for enhanced oil recovery.

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