(584m) CO2 Micro Foam and Its Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery

The diameter of foam is the key to determine foam`s physical properties. Based on that, I tried to enhance the EOR (enhanced oil recovery) property of CO<sub>2</sub> foam by decreasing it`s diameter. Several kinds of foaming agents (C-14 BE, CTMAB, SDBS and Polyoxyethylene alkyl amine), foam stabilizers (Polyacrylamide, Xanthan Gum and Carbopol Aqua SF-1) and preparation methods (airflow method and waring-blender method) were used to filtrate the best preparation conditions of CO₂ micro foam. Besides, temperature, concentration and the water`s degree of mineralization are also considered. After that, I examined the basic physical properties, structure and the diameter of CO₂ micro foam by Ross-Miles method and AFM (Atomic Force Microscope). With these consequences, I tried to explain the causes of these special characteristics of CO₂ micro foam in theory.

On the other hand, I used CO₂ micro foam to do low-permeability core flooding experiments to get displacement efficiency and the situation of residual oil (microscopic imaging of core slice) which are the evaluation indicators of EOR effect. The two evaluation indicators clearly expressed the exact EOR effect of CO₂ micro foam.

I also prepared normal CO₂ foam and air foam as a comparison. The comparative items, including structure, stability, foaming capacity and EOR effect, characterized the differences between CO₂ micro foam, normal CO₂ foam and air foam. At last, the CO₂ micro foam prepared by C-14 BE and polyacrylamide compound has the best physical property and EOR effect.