Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Flooding for Heavy Oil Recovery from Strongly Water Wet Cores Using Sodium Hydroxide, Lauryl Sulphate, Shell Enordet 0242, Gum Arabic and Xanthan Gum

Abstract Among the world's natural sources of energy, petroleum stands out as the largest contributing mineral. This makes it the most sought-after mineral. Methods for oil recovery are constantly studied, and innovations are being made to improve the recovery of oil. Chemical Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process is therefore at the fore-front of these studies and innovations. The research work presents a comparative study of the core flooding carried out with different Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer (ASP) slugs formulated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) an alkaline, surfactant being Lauryl Sulphate and Shell Enordet and polymer- gum Arabic and Xanthan gum. The result shows that the ASP slug of Xanthan gum with Shell Enordet 0242 and Lauryl Sulphate had the highest displacement efficiency of 71.23% and 49.51% respectively. The others ASP slug formulated with gum Arabic and Shell Enordet or Lauryl Sulphate gave an efficiency of 31.36% and 32.20% respectively. For heavy Oil recovery, the use of Shell Enordet 0242 or Lauryl Sulphate and Xanthan gum or gum Arabic will improve recovery. However, Xanthan gum gave a more stable displacement front than gum Arabic. Therefore, a higher concentration of gum Arabic is recommended for better recovery.