Nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants modified by carboxyl groups for foam EOR at high-salinity conditions

Abstract

High mineralization of water complicates the use of foam in reservoir conditions. Anionic– nonionic surfactants are one of the best candidates for these conditions since they have both high surface activity and salt tolerance. One of the ways to obtain anionic–nonionic surfactants is to modify nonionic surfactants by an anionic group. The type of the group and its chemical structure can strongly affect the properties of the surfactant. In this work, widely-produced nonionic surfactant nonylphenol (12) ethoxylate (NP12EO) was modified by new types of carboxylic groups through the implementation of maleic (NP12EO-MA) and succinic (NP12EO-SA) anhydrides with different saturation levels. The main objectives of this work were to compare synthesized surfactants with nonionic precursor and to reveal the influence of unsaturated bonds in the carboxyl group on the properties of the foam. NaCl concentration up to 20 wt% was used to simulate high mineralization conditions, as well as to assess the effect of unsaturated bonds on foam properties. Synthesized anionic–nonionic surfactants retained surfactant solubility and long-term stability in high-salinity water, but have better foaming ability, as well as higher apparent viscosity, in porous media. The presence of an unsaturated bond in NP12EO-MA surfactant lowers foaming ability at high mineralization.