The Effect of Alkali and Surfactant on Polymer Molecular Structure

Abstract

With the technical development of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) compound flooding technique has been the necessary choice in Daqing oilfield. Compared to average polymer flooding, ASP compound solution decreases the interfacial tension (IFT) between water and crude oil; however, the viscosity and viscoelasticity of ASP solution were performed by surfactant and alkali, both of which could affect the polymer moleculal structure and the oil recovery of ASP flooding. Considering practical requirements in oilfield development, much effort has been focused on the effect of alkali and surfactants on polymer solution by laboratory experiment and theoretical analysis. The results indicate that alkali and surfactants cause the interfacial tension decrease; at the same time, the molecular structure of the polymer is changed and the viscosity and viscoelasticity of polymer solutions are decreased. In addition, alkali neutralizes with negative ion on polymer molecular and causes the polymer molecular chains to curl up, forming a “band” molecular structure. Those actions could make viscoelastic behavior and rheological property of ASP solution weak.