Recent Advances of Surfactant-Stabilized N₂/CO₂ Foams in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

Foam has been applied in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) for more than sixty years. The surfactant-stabilized N2/CO2 foams are two of the most widely used foams in foam EOR processes, and numerous oil reservoirs could potentially benefit from them. This paper comprehensively reviews the development of these foams over the past decade. We focused on the promising surfactant formulas and their corresponding mechanisms under different reservoir conditions, especially harsh conditions. The most recent studies have shown that low interfacial tension foaming surfactants are efficient in fractured/tight reservoirs, while CO2-switchable surfactants are well suited to CO2 foam in carbonate reservoirs with high temperatures. Pure surfactants and mixed surfactants that combine anions and cations contain superior foam properties. The surfactant aggregates, such as vesicles and wormlike micelles, could distinctly enhance the foam stability. However, the adsorption of the mixed surfactants on reservoir rocks and the temperature sensitivity of the complex structures should be given particular consideration. The phase behaviors involved in foam EOR processes are vital and much more complicated than those in other EOR processes. Thus, a better knowledge of the phase behaviors could further improve foam EOR performance. The results of this paper provide clues to N2/CO2 foam EOR design and also promote the development of harsh reservoirs.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Catanionic surfactants; CO 2 -soluble surfactant; Foam stability; Interfacial elasticity; Low interfacial tension; Switchable surfactant

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0016-2361

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2019

Link to Full Text

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