UC Berkeley

To establish and improve recovery efficiencies of acidic crude oils with alkaline agents this work includes studies on displacement dynamics and modeling, chemical transport, and emulsion flow and displacement. An equilibrium chemical displacement model is presented. The unique feature of this theory is that the chemistry of the acid hydrolysis to produce in-situ surfactants is rigorously included. Calculations with the model reveal delayed and reduced tertiary oil recovery for adverse mobility ratios, and the critical importance of quantifying alkali rock interactions. Design of alkaline floods based only on properties of the fluid phases, such as interfacial tension, interfacial viscosity, or emulsion stability, can be obviated by the paramount role of rock-chemical reactions.