Characterization Study of Sulfonated Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Abstract
Surfactants lowers the IFT between the wetting and non-wetting phase. Surfactants could be positive (cationic), negative (anionic), neutral (nonionic) and hybrid (zwitterionic), with the anionic and nonionic category suitable for CEOR. Anionic surfactants are the best form of surfactants and suitable for sandstone while nonionic surfactants are suitable for carbonate formation. Several local surfactant sources exist but are predominantly nonionic in nature, and this impact on their IFT reduction, Enhanced Oil Recovery and Adsorption properties. This study evaluated sulfonation technique as a suitable means of improving non-ionic surfactants quality to suitability in sandstone reservoir. In these studies, 3 locally sourced oil; vegetable oil, palm kernel seed oil and used automobile oil were sulfonated independently, and characterized using the Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and the x-ray fluorescence. From the FTIR characterization study, the sulfonated sample can be classified as unsaturated alcohol samples. The sulfonation process improved the hydrophobic content of the samples. The sulfonation process improved the sulphur and phosphorus content of the samples. Sulfonated Sample-1 recorded closest correlation with the conventional material. It can be concluded that sulfonation process converts non-ionic surfactants to anionic surfactants.
Keywords
Chemical Enhanced Oil RecoverySample CharacterizationSurfactantsSulfonation
References
Sedaghat M.H., Ahadi A., Kordnejad M. &Borajani Z. (2013). Aspect of Alkaline Flooding: Oil Recovery Improvement and Displacement Mechanisms. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research. (18): Pp. 258-263. Kerunwa A., Okoro I.C., Dike C.F. 2024a. Performance Evaluation of the Synergetic Effect of Terminalia Mantaly Biopolymer and Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Petroleum and Coal, 66(1): 85-94. Izuwa N. C., Nwogu N. C., Williams C. C., Ihekoronye K. K., Okereke N. U. &Onyejekwe M. I. 2021a. Experimental investigation of impact of low salinity surfactant flooding for enhance oil recovery: Niger Delta field application. Jour. of Petrol. and Gas Eng. ISSN: 2141-2677. 12(2): Pp. 55-64. DOI: 10.5897/JPGE2019.0333 Afolabi F., 2015. Cost-Effective Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery. Int. Jour. of Petrol. and Petrochem. Eng. Pp 1(2): 1-11. Kerunwa A. Dike C.F., IzuwaN.C., Nduwuba G. and Nwanwe O. 2024b. Performance Evaluation of Agro-Materials for Surfactant-Polymer Flooding. Petroleum and Coal, 66(1): 308-317. Kerunwa A. 2020. The Impact of Core Firing on EOR of Low Salinity-Surfactant Flooding. Open Journal of Yangtze Gas and Oil.5: 103-116. Schramm L.L. (2000) Surfactants fundamental and application in petroleum industry Idudje H.E., Onwukwe S.I., Nwachukwu A., Duru U.I., Kerunwa A., Dike C.F. 2025. Performance Study of Surfactant-Assisted Electrokinetics for Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Niger-Delta.Petroleum and Coal, 67(1): 200-206 Coung, D., Long, N., Ngoc, N., et al. 2017. A Comprehensive Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer FloodingandHybrid Process For Enhanced Oil Recovery. Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical ConferenceandExhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 9-11 October. SPE-187132-MS Nikunji, D., and Tejas J. 2017. A Concise Review on Surfactants and Its Significance. International journalofApplied Chemistry,13(3): 663-672. Jeirani, Z.B., Mohamed, J.B., Si, A., et al. 2014. Pre-prepared Micro-emulsion Flooding inEnhancedOilRecovery: A Review. Petroleum Science and Technology,32(2): 180-193. Sheng, J. 2011. Modern Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery, Theory and Practice, 1st Edition. Burlington:GulfProfessional Publishing. Kerunwa A., Izuwa N.C., Dike C.F., Okereke N.U., Udeagbara S.G., Obibuike J.U., Emenike B.U.K. 2024c. Review on the Utilization of Local ASP in the Niger-Delta for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Petroleum and Coal, 66(1): 256-275 Ali, E., Amin, A., Rafael, M.S., et al. 2020 Mechanistic Investigation of LSW-Surfactant-Alkali Synergism for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Fluid-Fluid Interactions. ACS Omega 5: 30059- 30072 Onyekonwu, M. and Akaranta O. 2016. Alkaline Surfactant Flooding in Niger Delta: Experimental Approach.Paper presented at the SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria.2-5August. SPE-184271-MS. Obuebite, A. A., Onyekonwu, M., and Akaranta, O. 2020. An Experimental Approach to LowCost, High-Performance Surfactant Flooding. World Journal of Innovative Research,8(1): 44-50. Bera, A. and Mandal, A. 2014. Microemulsions: A Novel Approach to Enhanced Oil Recovery: IJEMT aReview.Journal of Pet. Exp. Prod. Technol. 5: 255-268 Izuwa N.C., Nwankwo V.I., Nwachukwu A., Ohia N.P., Uwaezuoke N., Duru U.I., Obah B. &Ekwueme S.T. 2021b. Suitability Evaluation of Locally Sourced Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Niger-Delta. Int. Jour. of Oil, Gas and Coal Eng.9(5): Pp. 71-82. doi: 10.11648/j.ogce.20210905.12 Krumrine, P.H., Falcone, J.S., and Campbell, T.C. 1982. Surfactant Flooding 1: The Effect of AlkalineAdditives on IFT, Surfactant Adsorption and Recovery Efficiency. SPE J,22(4):503-513 Jiramet, J., Kreangkrai, M. and Thitisak, B. 2017. Experiment on Measurement of Interfacial TensionforSubsurface Conditions of Light Oil from Thailand. MATEC Web of Conferences95: 1-4. Uzoho C.U., Onyekonwu M. &Akaranta O. (2020). Comparative Analysis of Local and Conventional EOR Agents. NAICE paper, SPE-203777-MS. Uzoho C.U., Onyekonwu M. &Akaranta O. (2019). Chemical Flooding Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Local Alkali- Surfactant-Polymer. World Journal of Innovative Research ISSN: 2454-8236. 7(1): Pp 16-24. Ikeagwu C., Nyah F. J., Onyekonwu M. O., Ogolo N. A. &Ubani C. 2013. Study of Alcohol Mixtures for Enhanced Oil Recovery. SPE NAICE paper, SPE-167547. Dike C.F., Izuwa N.C., Kerunwa A., Enyioko N.D, Ndoma-Egba E.L., Mbah C.G. and Ogbuatu O.M. 2024. Parametric Evaluation on the Interfacial Tension Response of Agro- Surfactant. Improved Oil and Gas Recovery Journal. DOI: 10.14800/IOGR.1280 Abraham D., Orodu O., Efeovbokhan V., Okoro E., Ojo T., &Keshinro L. 2020. Experimental Studies on the Performance of Bio Based and Industrial Surfactant in Enhanced Oil Recovery. NAICE paper, SPE-203759. Nkwor A.N., Ukoha P.O., Ifijen I.H. 2021. Synthesis of Sulfonated SesamumIndicum L. Seed Oil and Its application as a fatliquor in leather processing. Journal of Leather Science and Engineering. 3:16. Ahmed F.B., Khaled A.E., Syed M.M., Nazliah N.Z., Saeed A., Osman S. &Eldin H. 2019. The effect of surfactant concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH on surfactant adsorption for chemical enhanced oil recovery: a review. Jour. of Petrol. Explor. and Prod. Tech.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-0685-y Bagheri S.M.M., Nabipour, M., Esfandiari N. et al. 2025. Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbonate Reservoir using a combination of zwitterionic and cationic surfactants in the presence of different salts. J. Petrol. Explor. Prod. Technol., 15(70): https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-01973-1 Massarweh O., Abushaikha A.S. 2020. The use of surfactants in enhanced oil recovery: A review of recent advances. Energy Reports, 6: 3150-3178 Sagi R., Miskolczi N., Bartha L., Halmos P. 2008. Elemental Analysis of Engine Oils Using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Petroleum and Coal. 50(1): 1-1 Alang M.B., Kor N.M., Ndifon P.T. 2025. Bio-Glycerol Synthesis and Characterization from Palm Kernel Seed Oil of Cameroon. Chemistry and Biochemistry. Research Progress Vol. 6, 25-40. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cbrp/v6/5269 Oniya O.O., and Bamgboye A.I. 2014. Production of Biodiesel from Groundnut (Arachis IJEMT Hypogea) Oil. AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal. 16(1): 143-150
More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Network Coverage and Road Surface Condition as Joint Constraints on Digitally Booked Transport Beyond State Capitals
Author: Oladimeji Basit Alaka,, Oluwabusola Ajayi, Olayemi Bolaji
Cross-Functional Legal Education as Risk Mitigation: Empirical Analysis of Contract Error Reduction in Engineering Teams
Author: Cyril Chimelie Anichukwueze, Michael Ominyi, Ngozi Samuel Uzougbo, Blessing Chika, Jones
Multimodal Transit Centre in Peri -Urban Areas: Lessons for Lagos Ogun Corridor Ijoko
Author: Aseminaso.T. Precious, Adibe. Nkeiruka, Chinwennwo. P. Ohochuku
Multimodal Transit Centre in Peri -Urban Areas: Lessons for Lagos Ogun Corridor Ijoko
Author: Aseminaso.T. Precious, Adibe. Nkeiruka, Chinwennwo. P. Ohochuku
Mechanical Performance and Optimum Proportioning of Waste- PET and Crumb-Rubber Bituminous Concrete for Heavy Traffic
Author: Ndem U., Arinze E.E., Awodeyi A.