An Environment-Friendly Alkaline Solution for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

The injection of alkali and alkali/polymer solutions is a well-known enhanced oil recovery technique. This article demonstrates how wood ash can be used as a source of low cost alkali instead of synthetic alkali that is also environmentally friendly. From the experimental studies, it is found that the pH value of 6% wood ash extracted solution is very close to the pH value of 0.5% synthetic NaOH or of 0.75% Na₂SiO₃ solution. A preliminary microscopic study of oil/oil droplets interaction in natural alkaline solution was carried out in order to understand the oil/water interface changes with time and its effect on oil/oil droplet coalescence. Also, interfacial tension (IFT) was measured for both synthetic and natural alkaline solutions. The IFT values in the presence of acidic crude oil show comparable results.