CPC C09K 8/584 (2013.01) [C08L 33/26 (2013.01); C09K 8/52 (2013.01); C09K 8/588 (2013.01); C09K 8/602 (2013.01); C09K 8/68 (2013.01); C09K 8/88 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); F17D 1/16 (2013.01); C08K 5/09 (2013.01); C08K 5/37 (2013.01); C09K 2208/28 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. A method for performing an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation, comprising:
(a) providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin;
(b) providing a wellbore in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir;
(c) preparing an aqueous surfactant-polymer solution; and
(d) injecting the aqueous surfactant-polymer solution through the wellbore into the subsurface reservoir;
wherein preparing an aqueous surfactant-polymer solution, comprises:
providing a concentrated liquid surfactant composition comprising:
(a) a surfactant package in an amount of from 0.2% to 98% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrated liquid surfactant composition;
(b) a co-solvent in an amount of from greater than 0% to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrated liquid surfactant composition; and
(c) a liquid polymer (LP) composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrated liquid surfactant composition;
wherein the concentrated liquid surfactant composition has a total water content of from 0.5% to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrated liquid surfactant composition; and
combining the concentrated liquid surfactant composition with an aqueous fluid in a single stage mixing process to provide the aqueous surfactant-polymer solution,
wherein the single stage mixing process comprises applying a specific mixing energy of at least 0.10 kJ/kg to the concentrated liquid surfactant composition and the aqueous fluid; and
wherein the aqueous surfactant-polymer solution comprises a polymer concentration of from 50 to 15,000 ppm.
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