Wettability Alteration and Adsorption of Mixed Nonionic and Anionic Surfactants on Carbonates

Mixed-surfactant systems consisting of secondary alcohol ethoxylates and anionic sulfonates are evaluated as wettability alteration agents for enhanced oil recovery. The cloud points of the nonionic surfactants are raised by the addition of the sulfonates. The oil/water interfacial tension and contact angles of oil on initially oil-wet calcite are reported at different temperatures and surfactant compositions. Adsorption experiments are performed for select mixed systems at high temperatures. The extent of the increase in the cloud point, changes in the contact angle, and adsorption are influenced by co-surfactants, surfactant concentrations, and temperatures. Mixed surfactant systems were identified which modified the oil-wet surface to a water-wet surface with final contact angles as low as 70°. Mixed surfactants exhibit a linear trend in adsorption and wettability alteration with the thermodynamic descriptor of cloud point temperature difference, which has been used previously for single surfactants. These findings enable the design of surfactant formulations for wettability alteration in high temperature, high salinity reservoirs.