Alkyl polyglycoside surfactants for improved oil recovery

  • S. Iglauer
  • , Y. Wu
  • , P. J. Shuler
  • , M. Blanco
  • , Y. Tang
  • , W. A. Goddard

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Many surfactants have been evaluated for their ability to recover incremental oil. This study focused on alkyl polyglycosides (APG) as candidates for improved oil recovery application. A laboratory study determined the characteristics of many APG surfactant formulations, in particular for their capability to create low interfacial tensions (IFT) with n-alkane hydrocarbons. Formulations explored included a wide-range of alcohol and Sorbitan-based surfactants as cosurfactants with these APG surfactants. Some APG-cosurfactant combinations exhibited low IFT values of ≤ 0.01 dyne/cm or vs. n-octane. Laboratory testing confirmed the useful properties that the IFT for these APG formulations could be largely independent of both salinity and temperature. Some APG surfactants (shorter alkyl chain products) exhibited relatively low adsorption on kaolinite clay. IFT was lower for PG 2062/alcohol formulations when the alcohol Hansen dispersion parameter increased, polarization parameter decreased, and hydrogen bonding parameter decreased. As the Hansen parameters for this alcohol series became more similar to the values for n-octane, the model oil phase, the PG 2062/alcohol formulation reduced the IFT to its lowest measured values. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the SPE-DOE 14th Improved Symposium Oil Recovery Proceedings (Tulsa, OK, 4/17-21/2004).

Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jul 2004
Externally publishedYes
Event2004 SPE - DOE Fourteenth Inproved Symposium Oil Recovery Proceedings: Clean Sweep Strategies - Tulsa, OK, United States
Duration: 17 Apr 200421 Apr 2004

Conference

Conference2004 SPE - DOE Fourteenth Inproved Symposium Oil Recovery Proceedings: Clean Sweep Strategies
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTulsa, OK
Period17/04/0421/04/04

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Alkyl polyglycoside surfactants for improved oil recovery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this