Influence of the cationic degree and molar mass of modified starches on their physicochemical properties and capability to enhance the oil recovery process

Lorraine L G C de Araujo; Leonardo Dos S Cescon; Georgiana F Da Cruz; Regina S V Nascimento

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121388

Influence of the cationic degree and molar mass of modified starches on their physicochemical properties and capability to enhance the oil recovery process

Carbohydr Polym. 2024 Jan 1:323:121388. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121388. Epub 2023 Sep 13.

Authors

Lorraine L G C de Araujo¹, Leonardo Dos S Cescon², Georgiana F Da Cruz³, Regina S V Nascimento⁴

Affiliations

¹ Instituto de Química - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-909, Brazil; Laboratório de Engenharia e Exploração de Petróleo - Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Imboassica, Macaé, RJ 27910-970, Brazil. Electronic address: lorraine@ufrj.br.
² Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro - Centro, Nilópolis, RJ 26530-060, Brazil. Electronic address: leonardo.cescon@ifrj.edu.br.
³ Laboratório de Engenharia e Exploração de Petróleo - Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Imboassica, Macaé, RJ 27910-970, Brazil. Electronic address: georgiana@lenep.uenf.br.
⁴ Instituto de Química - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-909, Brazil.

PMID: 37940282
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121388

Abstract

Polysaccharides and their derivatives are used as additives in numerous petroleum industrial processes, especially in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). There exists however, a lack of studies concerning how their physicochemical properties affect the oil recovery process. This work presents an investigation of a series of 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propyl starches (HTPS) with different molar masses and cationic degrees that are potentially useful for EOR. It was investigated surface/interfacial tensions, rheological profile, emulsion index and wettability alteration. The results provide experimental evidence that the HTPS intrinsic properties affect the measured properties. The HTPS solution/oil interfacial tension (IFT) ranged from a low value of 19.0 to a high value of 34.0 mN/m and correlates positively with the molar mass of the HTPS. In contrast, the rheological behavior displays correlations with the molar mass and the degree of cationization. Furthermore, the 1 % HTPS solutions presented around 10 % of viscosity increase in comparison to brines typically used in waterflooding. The derivative with a higher molar mass and intermediate degree of cationization (HTPS 2) was more effective in changing the wetting condition of an aged limestone with a wettability alteration index (WAI) of 52 % while the commercial surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) presented a WAI of 32.6 %.

Keywords: 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propyl starches; Carbonate rock; Cationic degree modifications; Enhanced oil recovery; Modified starches; Wettability.