LABORATORY RESEARCH ON THE FORMATION OF EMULSIONS WITH MES PALM OIL SURFACTANT AND ALCOHOL ADDITIVES ON 33 DEGREE API OIL
Muhammad Furqon Haryono B., Rini Setiati, Arinda Ristawati, Muhammad Taufiq Fathaddin, Widia Yanti

Trisakti University

Abstract

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is an effective method for increasing crude oil production. In this study, researchers examined palm oil-based MES surfactant with 96% ethanol for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Ethanol enhances emulsion stability, vital for stable phase formation, improving crude oil production efficiency effectively
The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of concentration changes on the emulsion phase transition and the impact of alcohol added to the system.
This research involves testing the compatibility of palm oil-based MES surfactant with alcohol additives on 33 degree API oil. The study was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the results of Aqueous Stability testing using an oven at 60 degree C for 3 days. Furthermore, Phase Behavior testing was conducted using an oven at 60 degree C for 3 weeks or 21 days. The surfactant concentrations tested included 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.5%, 1.75%, and 2% under a salinity condition of 12,500 ppm.
The laboratory test results on Aqueous Stability showed that all surfactant concentrations with the addition of alcohol produced clear solutions. In the Phase Behavior test, a middle phase emulsion formed at surfactant concentrations of 1% and 1.25% with a relatively small emulsion volume, approximately 1.25%. At other concentrations, a lower phase emulsion formed, ranging from 0.75% to 2.5%.
From this research, it was concluded that the combination of palm oil-based MES with alcohol additives on 33 degree API oil produced a middle phase emulsion of 1.25%.

Keywords: Surfactant, Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES), Ethanol 96%, Aqueous Stability, phase behavior.

Topic: Reservoir engineering