Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Characterization of Microemulsion of Crude Oil Using Alkali-Surfactant Solution

알칼리-계면활성제 용액을 이용한 인도네시아 A원유의 마이크로에멀전 특성

  • Lee, Sang Heon (Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Sang Kyum (Graduate School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Bae, Wisup (Department of Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering, Sejong University) ;
  • Rhee, Young Woo (Graduate School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
  • 이상헌 (충남대학교 바이오응용화학과) ;
  • 김상겸 (충남대학교 에너지과학기술대학원) ;
  • 배위섭 (세종대학교 에너지자원공학과) ;
  • 이영우 (충남대학교 에너지과학기술대학원)
  • Received : 2014.12.31
  • Accepted : 2015.04.01
  • Published : 2015.06.10
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Abstract

For the enhanced oil recovery, one of the most important factors is to determine the surfactant formulation in chemical flood. The objective of this study is to analyze the microemulsion formed between the alkali-surfactant (AS) solution and A crude oil for screening surfactants. The alkali-surfactant solution was manufactured by using the surfactant purchased from AK ChemTech. $C_{16}-PO_7-SO_4$ and sodium carbonate solution were used as surfactant and alkaline, respectively. Both TEGBE and IBA were used as a co-solvent. The AS solution and A crude oil can form a Type III middle phase microemulsion at the salinity from 0.0 wt%~3.6 wt%. Increasing the salinity causes the phase transition of microemulsion from the lower (Type I) to middle (Type III) to upper (Type II) phase. Interfacial tension (IFT) values calculated by Huh's equation were in good agreement with ultralow IFT. According to this characteristic, the surfactant purchased from a domestic company can be applied to the enhanced oil recovery.

원유회수증진 중 하나인 화학적 공법은 원유의 특성에 맞는 화학물질들의 종류와 비율에 따라 회수되는 오일의 양이 다르기 때문에 오일 특성에 맞는 알칼리-계면활성제 용액을 제조하는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구 알칼리-계면활성제 용액과 인도네시아 A중질유와의 염도 측정 실험을 통해 마이크로에멀젼의 상 거동을 분석하여 인도네시아 A중질유와 적합한 알칼리-계면활성제 용액을 제조 및 적합한 비율을 선별하였다. 알칼리-계면활성제에 사용되는 계면활성제는 AK켐텍에서 제조된 $C_{16}-PO_7-SO_4$ 계면활성제를 사용하였고, 알칼리 물질과 조용매는 탄산나트륨, IBA 그리고 TEGBE를 사용하였다. 알칼리-계면활성제 용액과 인도네시아 A중질유를 혼합했을 때, 0.0~3.6 wt%의 염도에서 Type III의 마이크로에멀젼이 형성되었으며, 염도가 증가할 때 마이크로에멀젼은 물층(Type I)에서 중간층(Type III)에서 오일층(Type II)으로 이동하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 Huh 방정식을 통해 A중질유와 알칼리-계면활성제 용액의 계면장력을 계산한 결과 원유회수증진을 위해 적용 가능한 계면장력 값을 갖는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 특성들을 통해 국내산 알칼리-계면활성제를 이용한 화학적 공법의 적용 가능성을 확인하였다.

Keywords

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