Application of Medium Phase Microemulsion Theory in Enhanced Oil

With the continuous growth of global petroleum resource demand, traditional oil recovery technology is confronted with the challenge of low recovery efficiency in reservoirs characterized by low permeability, low porosity, and high salinity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more efficient improved oil recovery (EOR) technologies. In the past few years, microemulsion has attracted considerable interest in the petroleum industry as an effective oil displacement agent owing to its remarkable capacity to diminish the interfacial tension that exists between oil and water. Particularly, medium phase microemulsion has emerged as an essential instrument for enhancing oil recovery techniques during extraction processes. This paper systematically discusses the formation mechanism, physical and chemical properties of medium phase microemulsion, as well as its application in EOR. The adaptability and displacement efficiency of microemulsions in complex oil reservoirs are elucidated through analyzing their formation mechanisms such as interfacial adsorption film theory and interfacial tension theory. Additionally, this study explores the impact of environmental variables including temperature, salinity, and pH value on the phase behavior of microemulsions while discussing methods to enhance their stability using nano-composite materials and polymer surfactants. Although challenges exist in field applications such as formula matching and environmental impact associated with medium phase microemulsion technology; however, future integration with intelligent oil displacement technologies offers promising prospects for its development.