Molecular design synthesis and simulation on a novel gemini surfactant for eor from low permeability reservoirs

High injection pressure and the imbalance between water injection and oil production are two of the difficulties in developing low permeability oil reservoirs. Injecting gemini surfactants is a promising technique to overcome the difficulties to enhance oil recovery from low permeability oil reservoirs. Based on fractal analyses, a novel gemini surfactant is designed, and its possible synthesis route is suggested. The novel gemini surfactant is put into computer simulation. The results show that the novel gemini surfactant has better effects on washing oil than conventional gemini surfactants. The novel gemini surfactant has a great potential in enhancing oil recovery. The fractal dimension of the spacer group of the novel gemini surfactant is close to the fractal dimension of the microstructure of the reservoirs. This is the key point in designing the novel gemini surfactant. The fractal analyses of the key molecular structures help design more exact and efficient oilfield chemicals. Once the novel gemini surfactant is put into practical use, it will have active effects on both oil development and refinery industries.