The Effect ofConcentration ofSurfactant in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Viscosity and pH

Enhanced Oil Recovery or EOR is an advanced recovery methods used to recover
more oil at the greater extent. Presently, the challenge in most oil companies is to
find new methods and techniques to increase oil recovery or OIIP in their present
producing oil fields so that it would cater the ever increasing demand ofthe natural
resources.
Applications of engineering and technology are crucial in order to make the
attempts possible, and the development of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
techniques is one of study of interest to increase the current oil production
efficiency. Chemical EOR is a derivative ofthe EOR methods and this technique is
considered successful as it applies the usage of surfactants in lowering the
interfacial tension of the oil and the rock, thus boosts oil production capability.
Thus, it is crucial for these surfactants to be studied and evaluated especially on its
physical-chemical properties so that they can be fully utilized and ultimately, able to
increase oil recovery rate.
In this study, experimental works was carried out at Universiti Teknologi
Petronas laboratory. The concentration of the surfactant is varied and the effect to
the phase behavior, viscosity and pH was observed. For the determination ofphase
behavior, the method is carried out by simulating the surfactant samples in reservoir
temperatures in a specialized oven and it is left by a specified time. The
classification results are done by physical observation of the samples. As for
viscosity determination, viscometer is used to obtain the results. For pH
determination, pH indicator was used.
For Phase Behavior identification, most of the samples yield type II-, a
fair desirable results, and a few of samples managed to obtain type III. The viscosity
and pH ofthe solution is increased as the concentration ofthe surfactant increase. In
overall, the experimental works yield desirable phase behavior results and verified
the increment of viscosity and pH.