Relationship between Dynamic Interfacial Tension and Ultimate Recovery in Gemini Surfactant Flooding: An Exploration through Fractured Micromodels

The promising performance of gemini surfactants (GmS)in reducinginterfacial tension (IFT) and their low critical micelle concentration(CMC) have made them a subject of interest in chemical enhanced oilrecovery (CEOR) research. A locally synthesized GmS with high stability,salt tolerance, and CEOR potential was evaluated in this study forits ability to reduce IFT in both equilibrium and dynamic states aswell as its potential for enhancing oil recovery. A range of GmS concentrationsranging from 0.0005 to 1 wt % was tested, with rheology results indicatingno deviation from seawater rheology. The study found that, as theGmS concentration increased, IFT also increased, with the lowest IFTvalue of 0.12 mN/m obtained at 0.0005 wt % and the highest value of0.84 mN/m recorded at 0.5 and 1 wt %. The IFT curve for each concentrationgradually decreases over time as the system takes time to reach equilibrium.The highest ultimate recovery of 50.26% was obtained at a concentrationof 0.005% GmS as a result of the IFT effect, which mobilized the trappedoil in the pore network. The novel GmS was also successfully evaluatedfor dynamic IFT using fractured real geometry micromodels comparedto its equilibrium value of the spinning drop.

Automated summary

This study evaluated a locally synthesized gemini surfactant with high stability, salt tolerance, and CEOR potential for reducing interfacial tension and enhancing oil recovery. The study found that as the gemini surfactant concentration increased, the interfacial tension also increased. The lowest interfacial tension value of 0.12 mN/m was obtained at a concentration of 0.0005 wt%, while the highest value of 0.84 mN/m was recorded at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 wt%. The highest ultimate recovery of 50.26% was achieved at a concentration of 0.005% GmS.