Efficiency of Different Foaming Agents for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Bulk and Dynamic Flooding Screening

Foamability and foam stability are of main concerns in foam displacement for enhanced oil recovery. This work presents the output of systematic bulk and Dynamic screening of several foaming agents (surfactants). Solution salinity and oil presence effects were explored in static bulk tests. The most effective foaming agents were then investigated further through dynamic flooding in porous medium. The results indicate the foamability of all surfactants except for Triton X-405. Zonyl FSO and Hitenol H-10 were superior in term of foam stability with more stability as surfactants concentration increases. Equivalent optimum foam volumes were obtained for both surfactants but at higher concentrations of Hitenol H-10. Increasing solution salinity affected Zonyl FSO foam stability negatively at low concentration. Observation indicates that oil stayed in the lamella’s skeleton and plateau boarders with no drain out when Zonyl FSO solution was used. To the contrary, Hitenol H-10 was able to lift good portion of oil column but oil was drained out of the foam structure within a short period of time. Dynamic tests in porous medium indicate relatively better performance for Hitenol H-10 over Zonyl FSO as indicated by the increase in pressure drop and delayed gas breakthrough time.

Keywords: Foam; Agent; Oil recovery; Foam stability; Dynamic flooding