Microemulsions in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review

Abstract

Microemulsions have recently made advances in enhanced oil recovery processes in which chemicals, especially surfactants, are used to recover the oil from natural oil reservoirs. This technique relies on the knowledge of interfacial properties among oil, water, and solid rock reservoirs in the occasional presence of natural gas under extreme conditions. Surfactant-based chemical systems have been reported in many academic studies and their technological implementation is a potential candidate in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) activities. For instance, it was determined that a mobilized buffer (polymer) with viscosity either equal to or greater than the mobilized oil enhanced the recovery efficiency considerably. However, EOR based on chemicals like alkaline–surfactant–polymer (ASP) is a complex technology requiring a high level of expertise for its industrial implementation. The surfactant–polymer interaction is a rapidly growing research area for efficient oil recovery by improving slug integrity, adsorption, and mobility control. This review article evaluates the injecting fluid system to highlight some recent advances in the use of chemicals in EOR, especially with microemulsions. It further reveals the current status and future outlook for EOR technology in oil fields and describes the opportunities for strategic utilities and load growth in petroleum industry.