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Application of Worm-Like Micelles for Heavy Oil Recovery: Experimental and Modeling

Hemmati, Nasim | 2015

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 47458 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Ghaznafari, Mohammad Hossein
  7. Abstract:
  8. Surfactants are widely used in enhancing oil recovery. But application of worm-like micelles which seem to be a perfect candidate for enhancing heavy oil recovery have been less studied despite their significant ability in reducing interfacial tension and their high viscosity. This research consists of three parts. In the first part, the kinetic and equilibrium adsorption of surfactant on reservoir rock is experimentally investigated, and its appropriate kinetic and equilibrium adsorption model is specified. According to the adsorption models, the pseudo second order kintic coefficient of adsorption is proved to have a linear relationship with concentration, so its value at different surfactant concentrations and therefore the adsorption rate and density can be estimated in any surfactant concentration. Different equilibrium models were also studied and because of their inability to match with the experimental data, a new isotherm model was proposed for adsorption of anionic surfactants which could justify all of the prevailing adsorption mechanisms and predict the equilibrium adsorption density in a wide range of concentration. The effect of electrolyte and alkaline on adsorption parameters and mechanisms was also investigated. The presence of electrplyte only affected the rate and amount of adsorption, and didn't change its mechanisms. Alkaline, on the other hand, changed the adsorption mechanisms as well as reducing rate and amount of adsorption. The rheological properties of surfactant solutions were also investigated to ensure the formation of worm-loke micelles. In the second part, core flood tests were carried out to evaluate the applicability of worm-like micelles in heavy oil recovery. Three different surfactant solutions with the same surfactant concentration, but different structures (micellar, worm-like, and worm-like/alkaline) were injected into core. The worm-like micelles had a better effect on enhancing oil recovery, and this effect was further improved in presence of alkaline. In the third part, the core flood experiment was simulated via UTCHEM software based on the results obtained from parts one and two. The simulation model was verified by the experimental data and the unknown parameters, i.e. relative permeabilities were estimated by matching experimental/simulation results
  9. Keywords:
  10. Core Flooding ; Kinetic Adsorption ; Equilibrium Adsorption ; Surfactants ; Worm-like Micelles ; Alkaline Effect ; Simulation via UTCHEM ; Electrolyte Effect

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