An Environment-Friendly Alkaline Solution for Enhanced Oil Recovery |
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Authors: | M. S. Rahman M. E. Hossain M. R. Islam |
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Affiliation: | Faculty of Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | crude oil interfacial tension organic acid pH wood ash |
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