Solutions of Long-Chain Alcohols and Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery in High-Temperature Low-Permeability Reservoirs

We have studied the effectiveness of solutions for oil displacement that contain long-chain alcohols. We have experimentally established that mixtures of long-chain alcohols with olefin sulfonates significantly reduces the interfacial tension between light crude oil and aqueous surfactant solution. A flooding system containing long-chain alcohols changes the wettability of rock from oleophilic to neutral. Core flooding experiments showed that the proposed flooding system effectively displaces residual oil and reduces injection pressure.