Quaternary ammonium based surfmer-co-acrylamide polymers for altering carbonate rock wettability during water flooding

Carbonate reservoirs are one of enormous hydrocarbon sources in which wettability alteration is a widely implemented technique in tertiary recovery processes. In this research, different hydrophobic copolymers are prepared using quaternary ammonium based surfmers for altering carbonate rock wettability. These surfmers act as cationic surfactant at oil/water/rock interfaces. Rheological properties were evaluated at simulated reservoir conditions. Flooding experiments carried out through one dimensional chalk packed model. Wettability alteration was evaluated by two phase separation test. The results showed favorable salt tolerance, temperature resistance, and improved viscosity enhancement properties, in addition to copolymer ability to alter carbonate rock wettability.