Influence of emulsification, interfacial tension, wettability alteration and saponification on residual oil recovery by alkali flooding

The current study examines the synergy of interfacial tension, emulsification, wettability alteration and extent of saponification during alkali flooding for light to moderate crude oil. The oil recovered in the effluent stream during NaOH flooding was analysed to observe the quality of water in oil (W/O) emulsion produced and the extent of saponification. Core flooding experiments showed higher oil recovery of 25.48% initial oil in place (IOIP) at 1 wt% NaOH. Effects of slug volume and injection pattern during NaOH flooding experiments were also investigated. Further, contact angle changes the wettability from water wet to favourable intermediate wet. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.