Wettability alteration in enhanced oil recovery process using new amphoteric and cationic surfactants

Abstract

Over time, production of hydrocarbons decreases due to sequential producing and nowadays using Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods is a necessity. One of the methods in order to improve the oil recovery is altering the rock wettability toward water-wet by using Surfactant fl ooding. Surfactants have a variety of applications in the petroleum industry due to their remarkable ability to lower the oil-water interfacial tension and alter wettability. In this study new cationic and amphoteric surfactants synthesis and investigation of wettability alteration in EOR process is described. The goal of this work is to compare the wettability of a carbonate rocks from oil (mixed)-wet towards water-wet. Changing the wettability to preferentially water-wet condition will reduce the residual oil saturation (Sor). Wettability alteration is measured based on the contact angle method.