Microscopic experiment study on mechanisms of oil-gas interaction and CO2-surfactant flooding with different temperatures and pressures

For secondary and tertiary oil recovery processes, the interfacial interactions between injected gas and crude oil contributes significantly at the pore-scale. We experimentally examine the effect of temperatures, pressures and surfactants on interfacial interaction, contact angle and oil displacement efficiency of CO2 flooding at the pore-scale using microfluidics. Two types of flow channel designs are utilized in this study, blind end of direct channels and curved channels with different diameters. The results indicate that increasing pressure and adding surfactants can promote the contact between oil and gas and reduce the interfacial tension, which has a certain impact on oil displacement efficiency. In the process of gas flooding, CO2 dissolution, expansion and miscibility are the key oil-gas interactions. The results of experiments in curved and direct channels show that the curved channels increase the resistance of fluid flow and limit the contact between CO2 and oil. And with the decrease of the porous medium radius, the capillary action in the pores increases, and the higher the viscous force needed for displacing the oil, which will affect the interaction between oil and gas and the oil recovery in micro pores. Then, two non-ionic alkoxylated surfactants (i.e. ethylene glycol butyl ether and Span 80) were selected to enhance the interaction between CO2 and crude oil. The presence of surfactants increases the solubility of CO2 in crude oil, which reduces the interfacial tension of the system and results in higher oil recovery.

Automated summary

The interfacial interactions, contact angle, and oil displacement efficiency of CO2 flooding at the pore-scale were examined using microfluidics, with a focus on the effects of temperature, pressure, and surfactants. The results demonstrated that increasing pressure and adding surfactants promoted oil-gas contact and reduced interfacial tension, leading to higher oil recovery. Curved channels hindered CO2-oil contact, while non-ionic alkoxylated surfactants enhanced CO2-oil interaction and increased oil recovery through increased solubility and reduced interfacial tension.