Surfactant Blend for High-Temperature Petroleum Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subterranean petroleum recovery methods face challenges in identifying surfactant solutions stable at high temperatures and high salt concentrations, as nonionic surfactants become insoluble and less effective due to temperature and salinity conditions, leading to reduced petroleum recovery.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous solution comprising a nonionic surfactant with 7-20 ethylene oxide units and a di-sulfonated anionic surfactant, which maintains stability and solubility at temperatures above 70°C and TDS concentrations of 80,000 ppm or more, preventing chromatographic separation and adsorption on subterranean formation solids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nonionic surfactant is used to increase oil recovery and salinity tolerance, then petroleum displacement efficiency is improved, but surfactant solubility decreases at high temperature and high salinity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by specifying a particular nonionic surfactant structure (ethylene oxide units on a hydrophobic backbone) and optimizing its concentration in the aqueous solution. This parameter optimization allows the surfactant to maintain solubility at high temperatures (above 70°C) and high salinity (80,000 ppm TDS) while still effectively displacing petroleum from subterranean formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system by combining nonionic surfactant molecules with specific ethylene oxide units and hydrophobic backbones in an aqueous solution. This composite molecular structure provides both the solubility needed for high-temperature stability and the surfactant properties needed for effective petroleum displacement in high-salinity environments.
2Productivity
If aqueous surfactant solution is injected to enhance petroleum displacement, then oil recovery increases, but surfactant becomes insoluble and less effective under extreme temperature and salinity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of the nonionic surfactant, specifically the number of ethylene oxide units (7-20 units) and the hydrophobic backbone structure, to maintain the balance between solubility and surfactant activity. This parameter optimization ensures the surfactant remains effective at temperatures above 70°C and salinity levels of 80,000 ppm or higher, preventing precipitation while maintaining petroleum displacement capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If nonionic surfactant with two alkoxy chains or aromatic structure is used to improve stability, then solution stability at high temperature increases, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the nonionic surfactant by specifying 7-20 ethylene oxide units on a hydrophobic backbone, which provides adequate stability at high temperatures without requiring the more complex and expensive two-alkoxy-chain or aromatic structures. This parameter optimization achieves the desired stability at above 70°C while maintaining ease of manufacture and lower cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively enhances petroleum recovery by maintaining surfactant stability and solubility in extreme conditions, allowing for increased oil displacement and recovery, even in high-temperature and high-salinity environments.
Implementation Method 1
injecting an aqueous solution of nonionic and anionic surfactants into the subterranean formation to displace petroleum
Implementation Method 2
nonionic surfactants provide higher oil recovery in waterflooding as a result of converting rock surfaces from oil-wet to water-wet
Implementation Method 3
maintains stability and solubility at temperatures above 70°C and TDS concentrations of 80,000 ppm or more, preventing chromatographic separation and adsorption on subterranean formation solids
Data Source
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AI summary
Recover petroleum from a subterranean formulation by injecting an aqueous solution comprising a polyethylene oxide nonionic surfactants and a disulfonated anionic surfactant.