Enhanced oil recovery method: injection of steam with surfactant solutions

A laboratory study is presented on the recovery of a 30 Api gravity oil by the combined injection of steam and a sodium sulfonate aqueous solution. After the optimization of both surfactant concentration and injection procedure, a significant decrease in the residual oil saturation has been obtained compared to steam injection alone. The alternative injection of surfactant and steam slugs has proved to be the most efficient method of inducing low values of interfacial tensions inside the porous medium.