Application of Lauryl Betaine in enhanced oil recovery: A comparative study in micromodel

Abstract

Micromodel flooding is a cost-effective method to investigate enhanced oil recovery. In this study, we apply Lauryl Betaine as an amphoteric surfactant to the injected fluids into the micromodel and compare the results with conventional EOR techniques such as water flooding, solvent flooding, and microemulsion flooding. First, we determined the optimal flow rate of injected fluid into the micromodel to represent fluid flow in the formation. Next, we did water flooding with varying salinities. Next, we did solvent flooding with two different ratios of solvents. Condensate and hexane are the solvents we applied. Next, we did surfactant flooding using Lauryl Betaine. Surfactant flooding tests are conducted using different salinity and surfactant concentration (C_s). Finally, we did microemulsion flooding. The results show that surfactant flooding at high salinity using Lauryl Betaine leads to highest oil recovery among all tested EOR methods. Besides, the results indicate that addition of Lauryl Betaine to the injected brine leads to higher breakthrough time (BT).

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