A Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant Engineered for Enhanced Foam Stability and Reduction in Interfacial Tension Across Diverse Water Chemistries

ABSTRACT The effectiveness and efficiency of oil and gas extraction are heavily influenced by the surfactants employed. These chemical agents play a crucial role in boosting productivity by lowering the interfacial tension, enhancing fluid recovery, modifying the wettability of the formation, and minimizing flow resistance. Surfactants can also generate/stabilize foam in those applications where foam is desired, such as water‐sensitive formations. However, water quality varies significantly from site to site, presenting challenges in consistent surfactant performance. This study demonstrates how water chemistry impacts foam properties and interfacial tension using three surfactants: a modified alkyl polyglucoside (Mod APG), sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), and sodium sulfosuccinamate. Among these, the Mod APG has demonstrated strong foaming capabilities, significant reductions in IFT, and high tolerance to diverse water conditions, including salt water and hard water environments.