Interaction of Foam and Microemulsion Components in Low-Tension-Gas Flooding

Low-Tension-Foam (LTF) flooding is an emerging enhanced oil recovery technique for low-permeability carbonate reservoirs. Foam capacity closely related to the salinity environment (or, equivalently, phase behavior of oil/water/surfactant system). Therefore, interactions between microemulsion and foam components are primary importance in LTF process. In this study, system under equilibrium analyzed, firstly by assuming perfect mixing. Meanwhile, formation kinetics monitored through a novel low-field NMR technique, which able provide quantitative assessment on evolution characteristics. Then, stability examined absence presence Winsor-I Winsor-III type microemulsions. It revealed that depends solubilization (oil swollen micelle size). A decrease size micellar structure effectiveness, conjunction with increasing salinity, leads lower microemulsion.