PREPARATION OF DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS FOR MAKING AN OIL-DISPLACING COMPOSITION BASED ON TETRAHYDROXY ALCOHOL, CARBAMIDE, QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALT, AND A SURFACTANTS

The binary systems of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been synthesised and investigated: tetraxydroxy alcohol - a salt of a quaternary ammonium base (DES1), tetrahydroxy alcohol - carbamide (DES2), a salt of a quaternary ammonium base - carbamide (DES3), and the ternary system tetrahydroxy alcohol - a salt of a quaternary ammonium base - carbamide (DES4). Eutectic compositions of binary systems DES1, DES2 and DES3 are characterised by significantly lower pour/melting points than those of the initial components. The lowest pour point among the binary mixtures is that of eutectic composition DES3. The ternary system is characterised by an even lower melting point (-14 °C), which is associated with the formation of intermolecular donor-acceptor hydrogen bonds within the system. An aqueous solution of DES4 with the concentration of 26 wt% was prepared, and its pH value was determined depending on temperature during preparation. At room temperature, pH of three-component DES is 6.6-7.1, but after thermostating for 6 h at 150 °C pH increases to 9.2 due to carbamide hydrolysis. It is assumed that further on, using DES4 as the basis for an alkaline oil-displacing composition directly in the reservoir, under the influence of the temperature of injected heat carrier, CO2 is formed, along with the ammonia buffer system with the maximal buffer capacity within the pH range 9-10. Resulting carbon dioxide, dissolving predominantly in oil, will cause a decrease in its viscosity, on the one hand, while the formed alkaline medium, being most favourable for surfactant performance due to a decrease in interfacial tension, liquefaction of high-viscosity layers or films at the oil-water-rock boundaries, on the other hand, will ensure efficient use of this system for oil displacement. In addition, the oil-displacing composition based on DES4 will be low-solidifying, which opens the possibility of its transportation and use in the northern regions and the Arctic zone.