Study of Sapindus rarak Properties as A Natural Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery Injection Fluids
Fajri Maulida (b), Muhammad Taufiq Fathaddin (a*), Dwi Atty Mardiana (b), Rini Setiati (b), Asri Nugrahanti (b), Marmora Titi Malinda (b), Samsol (b)

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Universitas Trisakti, West Jakarta 11440, Indonesia

Abstract

Sapindus rarak or lerak belongs to the Sapindus genus. Sapindus rarak or commonly called soapberries (soapnuts) are fruits that look similar to walnuts and grow on trees that reach 10 meters in height. Lerak fruit contains saponin which produces foam and functions as a cleaning agent for clothes, floors and various kitchen utensils. The aim of this research is to measure the density, viscosity and static adsorption of Sapindus rarak surfactant on Berea core rock. The surfactant solution concentrations in this study were 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, 25000 and 30000 ppm and the formation water salinity levels were 6,000 and 10,000 ppm. The measurement results show that increasing salinity from 6000 ppm to 10000 ppm causes an average density increase of 0.004 gr/cc or an increase of 0.41%. Measurements also show that increasing salinity from 6000 ppm to 10000 ppm causes an average increase in viscosity of 0.20755 cp or an increase of 14.5%. In addition, adsorption measurements showed that increasing salinity from 6000 ppm to 10000 ppm caused an average decrease in adsorption of 2.17 mg/gr or an increase of 8.8%.

Keywords: Sapindus rarak- density- viscosity- adsorption- salinity

Topic: Reservoir engineering