Optimal Design of Alkaline–Surfactant–Polymer Flooding under Low Salinity Environment

Abstract

This paper presents an optimal design of alkaline−surfactant−polymer (ASP) flooding and an experimental analysis on the effects of ASP components under low formation salinity, where the assignment of salinity gradients and various phase types are limited. The phase behavior and coreflooding tests confirmed the ASP formula is optimal, i.e., 1 wt % sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as the alkaline, 1:4 eight ratio for linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) as a surfactant, 5 wt % diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DGBE) as a co-solvent, and hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) as a polymer. The salinity scan was used to determine that the optimum salinity was around 1.25 wt % NaCl and its solubilization ratio was favorable, i.e., approximately 21 mL/mL. The filtration ratio determines the polymer concentrations, i.e., 3000 or 3300 mg/L, with a reduced risk of plugging through pore throats. The coreflooding test confirmed the field applicability of the proposed ASP formula with an 86.2% recovery rate of residual oil after extensive waterflooding. The optimal design for ASP flooding successfully generated phase types through the modification of salinity and can be applicable to the low-salinity environment.

Keywords

• low salinity
• alkaline–surfactant–polymer flooding
• optimal design
• optimal salinity
• co-solvent