Microemulsiones para la recuperación mejorada de crudo y la limpieza de pozos

Abstract

Microemulsions are monophasic systems in which water and oil are made compatible by an amphiphilic mixture that usually contains surfactant and alcohol. Unlike macroemulsions, microemulsions are thermodynamically stable and exhibit a low viscosity; they produce an ultra low interfacial tension with water and oil. They are used at low surfactant concentration in a three-phase microemulsion-water-oil slug process to mobilize oil. The low tension and low stability of formed emulsions result in a very significant improvement in oil recovery. On the other hand, at a sufficiently high surfactant concentration, they are used as single phase well cleaner to increase permeability for injection and production, as well as in formation damage treatment. Recent studies indicate that the optimum formulation principle applies to both cases, in the former as the injected slug, and in the later when the injected pill mixes with the formation emulsions.