The Study Of Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate Surfactant For Enhanced Oil Recovery

The paper concentrates on the investigation of the surfactant which is produced from the distillates of heavy alkyl benzene (by -product of dodecyl benzene) and its applicability in Enhance Oil Recovery. The laboratory studies demonstrate that it is an ideal way to sulfonate the material with Sulfur trioxide and the falling-film technology. The desirable sulfonating parameters were optimized by performing orthogonal experiments with three factors and three-level factorials, and consequently obtained high performance laboratory prototypes through the processes of neutralization and blending. The overall performance evaluation of the product shows that the corresponding ASP system containing alkali/surfactant/polymer not only has a high performance of interfacial tension (IFT) required to displace oil, but also has a long term IFT and viscosity stability. The laboratory experiments of adsorption on the sandstone and its emulsifying power indicate that the surfactant is comparable with the foreign ones (such as ORS-41). By optimizing the formula and the way of injection, the laboratory flooding experiment can enhance 20% more original oil in place (OOIP) than waterflooding on natural cores. The project also provided a series of laboratory prototypes which can meet the oil and water requirement of different zones (such as the zones of No.l, 3 and 6 Oil Production Plant in Daqing oil field.). At the same while, we succeeded in preparing surfactant qualified for EOR by using the heavy alkyl benzene from Najing, so it is feasible to choose materials from different areas in China.