The Synergistic Effects of Alkaline, Surfactant, and Polymer on the Emulsification and Destabilization of Oil-in-water Crude Oil Emulsion Produced by Alkaline-surfactant-polymer Flooding

The synergistic effects of NaOH, alkylbenzyl sulfonate surfactant, and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) on the emulsification and destabilization of O/W crude oil emulsion produced by alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding both as a whole process and as two separate processes were studied. The experimental results showed that the major factors governing the stability against phase separation of O/W ASP flooding produced fluid include the enhanced emulsification of produced fluid by alkaline, surfactant and HPAM, in which smaller oil droplets are generated, and the hindrance of alkaline and surfactant to oil droplet flocculation and coalescence.