Enhancing Unconventional EOR Techniques: Evaluating Surfactant Formulation through Laboratory Studies and Field Applications

Summary Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques have become crucial in the oil and gas industry to maximize the recovery of oil reserves. One such technique is the use of surfactants to increase the efficiency of oil recovery from unconventional sources. The formulation and evaluation of surfactants for EOR applications have been extensively studied in laboratory settings. Various parameters such as surfactant concentration, pH, salinity, and temperature are evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the surfactant in reducing interfacial tension and surface wettability modification. However, the effectiveness of surfactants in the laboratory does not always translate to field applications. This manuscript aims to investigate the formulation and evaluation of surfactants for unconventional EOR applications by combining laboratory evaluations with field examples. The laboratory evaluations will focus on the effect of various parameters on surfactant performance, while the specific field examples will provide real-world applications of surfactants in EOR and their outcomes. The paper will also evaluate the challenges associated with surfactant use in field applications and the strategies employed to overcome these challenges. Overall, this paper provides insights into the formulation and evaluation of surfactants for EOR applications. It highlights the importance of combining laboratory evaluations with field examples to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of surfactants in unconventional EOR. The discussions in this paper can be useful for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals involved in EOR applications.