SEPARATION OF OIL AND WATER PRODUCED BY MICELLAR-SOLUTION/POLYMER FLOODING.

Data from laboratory corefloods pertinent to the characterization of produced-fluid phase behavior are presented. It is shown that some petroleum sulfonates produced along with oil and brine in micellar/polymer enhanced oil recovery projects may remain in the produced-oil phase. These sulfonates cause significant amounts of water to remain in the oil. Sulfonate solubility in the oil phase is a function of the salt concentration of produced brine and sulfonate equivalent-weight distribution. Oil produced at the 219-R Project was successfully upgraded (enough sulfonate was removed) to meet pipeline standards by proper application of a treatment chemical to make sulfonates more water-soluble and by introduction of a freshwater wash.