Evaluation of surfactants for oil field flooding

Summary The problem of placing surfactant flooding on an economic basis should be of interest to both the oil producer and the surfactant manufacturer. To oil producers it could mean an increase of as much as 6 billion barrels in the recoverable reserves of the United States alone. This figure is based on application in areas where conventional water flooding is at present economically feasible (1). To surfactant manufacturers it could mean a market for as much as 20 billion pounds which amounts to 10 years of sales at current rates (11). If the process were developed to the point that it could make water flooding attractive in areas where it is now technically, but not economically feasible, another 20 billion barrels of oil might be recovered and perhaps 30 billion pounds of surfactant utilized. It is hoped that others interested in the problem of surfactant flooding will find the analysis and calculations presented here helpful. Adsorption has been emphasized because it is probably the most difficult of the many subsidiary problems involved. Those who have studied surfactant adsorption in relation to oil field flooding have consistently reported unfavorable results (4). Unfortunately not much is known about structural changes in surfactant molecules which might be used to control adsorption onto mineral surfaces. Neither is there much information available on the effective surface‐areas of reservoir rocks with respect to adsorption of surfactant‐size molecules. Both of these subjects require intensive study if surfactants are to be used successfully in water flooding.