Correlation of Middle Phase Behavior to IFT :

Literature Review
Renato Aditya1, R Setiati1*, SS Riswati1, Iwan Sumirat2, Bharoto2

1
Master of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas
Trisakti, Jakarta, Indonesia
2
Pusat Riset & Teknologi Bahan Maju Nuklir, BATAN, Puspitek Serpong, Tangerang Selatan,
Indonesia

*Corresponding Author : rinisetiati@trisakti.ac.id

Presented by Renato Aditya

 Abstract
• In the petroleum industry, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology has been
developed to obtain increased oil recovery from reservoirs. One of the EOR
methods is chemical EOR using a surfactant known as the Surfactant Flooding
method. Surfactants have the ability to reduce the interfacial tension between
oil and water in the rock matrix so that residual oil that has not been produced in
the primary recovery or water flooding stages can be produced. There are
several parameters that affect the performance of surfactants, among which will
be the subject of discussion in this literature review, namely the middle phase
emulsion obtained from the phase behavior test and the results from the
interfacial tension (IFT) test. From this literature review, a correlation between
the middle phase emulsion and the results of the interfacial tension (IFT) will be
obtained. Based on the literature review, The method used in IFT using the
spinning drop method. And the method used in the phase behavior test is 2 mL
of surfactant solution with a certain concentration mixed with 2 mL of crude oil
which is inserted into a scaled test tube. Then the surfactant and crude oil
solution in the test tube was shaken slowly. During the test, the test tube was
placed in an oven at a temperature of 60o C for 21 days.
 Introduction
• One of the activities to increase oil production is the EOR method. One of the EOR methods
that use chemicals such as surfactants, polymers, and alkalis is called chemical flooding.

• Surfactants (Surface Active Agents) are molecules that have a polar group that likes water
(hydrophilic) and a non-polar group that likes oil (lipophilic) at the same time (Olajire, 2014).
Then Perkins (1998) explains that the use of surfactants is mostly done because of its ability
to affect the surface and interface properties of two phases that do not meet each other.

• Viriya (2015) explained that the working principle of surfactants in reducing IFT occurs in the
hydrophilic part, where the part enters the polar solution. Then the lipophilic part will enter a
non-polar solution. Based on the statement, the two compounds initially could not combine
to form a mixed compound.

• In this literature review, two factors that affect the performance of surfactants will be
discussed, namely the middle phase emulsion and the results of the IFT test.

• The middle phase emulsion obtained from phase behavior test and the IFT result obtained
from Spinning Drop Test.

• From this literature review we can know the correlation middle phase emulsion to IFT.
 Introduction
• In this literature review, two factors that
affect the performance of surfactants will be
discussed, namely the middle phase emulsion
and the results of the IFT test.
• The middle phase emulsion obtained from
phase behavior test and the IFT result
obtained from Spinning Drop Test.
• From this literature review we can know the
correlation middle phase emulsion to IFT.
 Methodology
• The research will be conducted using the Literature Review method.

Selecting a Topic
• Selected Topic is The Correlation Middle
Phase Emulsion to IFT.

• The Article Chosen are the articles that

Having the Right Article have several discussion about Middle
Phase Emulsion and IFT of Surfactant
EOR.

Literature Analysis • Literature Analysis will be discussed in

Results & Discussion

• Review will be written at Conclusion

Write a Review
 Results & Discussion
• The main mechanism in the performance of EOR using surface active additives are; (Sukriya, I. N., 2011)
1. Interfacial tension between oil and solution is less than 10-3 mN/m
2. Spontaneously, form emulsification or microemulsions of oil trapped in rock pores
• Chemical EOR injection of surfactant aims to reduce the interfacial tension of oil-water by forming a
mid-phase microemulsion.

• Emulsification mainly depends on the IFT of water or oil. The lower the IFT, the easier it is for
emulsification to occur. Emulsion stability mainly depends on the water or oil interface. The surfactant
added externally can reduce the IFT between the extracted oil and the mixed solution to a low value so
that emulsification can occur. (Sukriya, I. N., 2011)

• Sheng (2010) explained that the most basic thing in EOR research is the phase test.

• Sandersen (2012) then explained that the parameters that greatly affect the phase test are surfactant
concentration, co-surfactant, salinity, type of oil, and temperature.

• Kayali (2010) explained that this phase test aims to determine the IFT value of the surfactant from the
microemulsion formed in a surfactant, brine and oil system. This is closely related to IFT which is an
important factor in oil recovery by forming microemulsions during the chemical flooding process.
 Results & Discussion
• Fattahanisa et al (2018) conducted a study to determine the optimum composition of bagasse
NaLS surfactant as an injection fluid at low salinity. In this study, conditioning was carried out
near the reservoir with several variations of surfactant concentration and salinity of synthetic
formation water. Several stages of testing were carried out, namely compatibility test
(aqueous stability and phase behavior test) and rheology test (IFT and thermal stability) of
surfactants. After that, core flooding was performed to determine the recovery factor. The
optimum surfactant composition was obtained at a concentration of 1.5% surfactant at a
salinity of 15,000 ppm with an IFT value of 2.11 mN/m. The following below is a surfactant
screening table from the study of Fattahanisa et al (2018).

Table 1. Screening Results Of Surfactant Compatibility

IFT
Surfactant Composition Salinity Emulsion (%) Phase Emulsion
(mN/m)

1,5% 4.000 28,8% Middle 2,44

1,0% 15.000 8,75% Middle 2,93

1,5% 15.000 3,75% Middle 2,11

 Results & Discussion
• Ristawati (2018) conducted research to determine the optimum composition of bagasse NaLS
surfactant as an injection fluid at high salinity. In this study, conditions were carried out near
the reservoir with several variations of surfactant concentration (1% - 3%) and synthetic
formation water salinity (70,000 ppm; 75,000 ppm; 80,000 ppm). Several stages of testing
were carried out, namely compatibility test (aqueous stability and phase behavior test) and
rheology test (IFT and thermal stability) of surfactants. After that, core flooding was
performed to determine the recovery factor. The optimum surfactant composition was
obtained at a concentration of 1.5% surfactant at a salinity of 75,000 ppm with an IFT value of
2.0 mN/m. Below is a table of compatibility test and IFT results.

Table 2. Screening Results Of Surfactant Compatibility

IFT
Surfactant Composition Salinity Emulsion (%) Phase Emulsion
(mN/m)

1,5% 70.000 8,75% Middle 7,6

1,0% 75.000 22% Middle 7,0

1,5% 75.000 6% Middle 2,0

 Conclusion
• Based on the discussion carried out in the previous chapter, the authors provide research
conclusions:
1. The mechanism of surfactant are depends on Middle Phase Emulsion and the IFT number.
2. The concentration of surfactant and formation water salinity can affect the middle phase
emulsion and IFT.
3. Surfactant can reduce the IFT between water and oil, so emulsification can be occurred.
4. From the research of Fattahanisa et al (2018), the lowest percentage of emulsion (3,75%) at
the same concentration of surfactant (1,5%) has the lowest IFT value and it has the optimum
results of oil recovery factor.
5. From the research of Ristawati et al (2018), the lowest percentage of emulsion (6%) at the
same concentration of surfactant (1,5%) has the lowest IFT value and it has the optimum
results of oil recovery factor.
6. So we can conclude that middle phase emulsion has the correlation between IFT value and
the surfactant with the lowest IFT value has greater ability to make emulsification between
oil and water, so it can be great to the oil recover factor.
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