Review: Microemulsions for the Sustainable Development of EOR

Haibin Hu, Qun Zhang (), Maozhang Tian, Yuan Li, Xu Han and Rui Guo
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Haibin Hu: School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Qun Zhang: Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China
Maozhang Tian: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China
Yuan Li: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China
Xu Han: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China
Rui Guo: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Global oil and gas resources are declining continuously, and sustainable development has become a common challenge worldwide. In terms of environmental protection and economic benefits, the application of microemulsions for enhanced oil recovery often requires fewer chemical agents, showing distinct advantages. This paper analyzes the application prospects and trends of middle-phase microemulsions in tertiary oil recovery. The properties of middle-phase microemulsions are introduced, and an overview of the historical development, theoretical framework, influencing factors, and preparation methods of emulsions are provided. From the perspective of oil displacement systems, this paper reviews the selection and characterization methods of emulsions, as well as the interaction mechanisms between emulsions and reservoirs, proposing future research directions. The focus of the paper is on the evaluation and characterization of emulsions, the mechanisms of micro-oil displacement, and the application of advanced CT scanning technology, which gives a new understanding of wettability changes, capillary forces, and miscible solubilization processes, contributing to the reduction in displacement costs and the improvement of economic benefits. In conclusion, the middle-phase microemulsion flooding technique can significantly enhance oil recovery through the comprehensive action of various mechanisms and has been widely used in oil field development.

Keywords: middle-phase microemulsion; enhanced oil recovery; microscopic mechanism; field tests; micro-CT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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