USE OF MIXED SURFACTANTS TO GENERATE FOAMS FOR MOBILITY CONTROL IN CHEMICAL FLOODING

The application of mixed surfactant foams as an alternative method for mobility control behind a low-concentration chemical flood was evalua ted in laboratory experiments. Results indicated that use of alternati ng slug cycles of gas and selected mixed surfactants resulted in signi ficantly higher differential pressures, Ap, compared with use of only the individual surfactant components, even at low surfactant concentra tions. Foams generated with these systems were more stable, even in th e presence of oil. The synergistic effect of enhancing foam-generation behavior and stability of these types of systems can improve propagat ion of a mobility-control front through porous media.