Synthesis and Characterization of Polyacrylamide Crosslinked Copolymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Rock Wettability Alteration

Abstract

Recently enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology is getting more attention by many countries since energy crises are getting worse and frightened. To improve oil recovery several techniques had been employed, one of them is wettability alteration by chemical agents flooding. In this research a novel copolymer (Acrylamide-4-Dodecyl-benzenesulfonate-1-vinylimidazol-3-ium-Divinyl sulfone) prepared by free radical emulsion polymerization of acrylamide (AM), 4-Dodecyl-benzenesulfonate-1-vinylimidazol-3-ium (DBSV) as amphoteric surfmer and divinyl sulfone (DVS) as hydrophobic cross-linker moiety had been prepared and characterized. Chemical structure of the prepared copolymer was proven through different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (1H&13C-NMR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), while particle size and particle size distribution were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thermal properties characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Wettability alteration was evaluated by contact angle measurements through static sessile drop method, where the results indicate the novel copolymer ability for altering wettability of sandstone rock from oil-wet to water wet even at harsh reservoir conditions, so enhance oil recovery factor.