Application of commercial zwitterionic surfactants and ionic liquids to reduce interfacial tension and alter wettability in a carbonate reservoir.

Interfacial tension (IFT) reduction and wettability alteration are major mechanisms to chemically enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) in carbonate reservoirs. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of different surfactants on IFT and wettability alteration. Four different surfactants including ionic liquids and zwitterionic surfactants, namely [C₁₂mim]Cl, TR-880, NX-2760, and NX-1510, were used in this study. Reservoir core samples, formation brine and crude oil from the Karanj oil field, located in Iran were used. The results showed that the tested surfactants are capable of reducing IFT significantly, changing the wettability to greater hydrophilicity, thus potentially facilitating oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]