Gemini surfactant composition and method for treating subterranean rock
The invention concerns synthesized amido-amine-based cationic gemini surfactants with flexible and rigid spacers and different hydrophobic. These gemini surfactants were prepared by modified procedure through amidation of long chain carboxylic acids using 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine followed by treatment with halohydrocarbons and showed excellent thermal stability and surface properties useful for various oilfield applications such as enhanced oil recovery.
1. A gemini surfactant, comprising:
a cation part having a structure (I), and
an anion part having a combined charge of −2,
wherein:
R1 and R2 are C 8 -C 30 alkyl or C 10 -C 30 alkenyl,
S is a C 4 -C 8 alkenylene spacer, and
n and n′ are integer values from 2 to 5.
2. The gemini surfactant of claim 1 that is selected from the group consisting of surfactants of formulas (1), (2), (3), and (4):
3. The gemini surfactant of claim 1 , wherein S is a linear C 4 -C 8 alkenylene spacer containing at least one cis-double bond.
4. The gemini surfactant of claim 1 , wherein S is wherein S is a linear C 4 -C 8 alkenylene spacer containing at least one trans-double bond.
5. The gemini surfactant of claim 2 that has formula (1).
6. The gemini surfactant of claim 2 that has formula (2).
7. The gemini surfactant of claim 2 that has formula (3).
8. The gemini surfactant of claim 2 that has formula (4).
9. A composition comprising one or more of the gemini surfactants of claim 1 and water.
10. The composition of claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a monomeric surfactant, a demulsifier, and a coupling agent.
11. A method for increasing a recovery of crude oil or another hydrocarbon from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation or during hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
injecting a composition comprising the gemini surfactant of claim 1 into a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation is a carbonate reservoir.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation is a sandstone reservoir.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation is a tight shale reservoir.
15. A method of increasing recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formation, comprising:
forming a composition comprising the gemini surfactant of claim 1 and water, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a cationic monomer surfactant, a demulsifier, and a coupling agent,
injecting the composition into the hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formation; and
collecting a hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formation.
16. The method of claim 15 , where the gemini surfactant is present in the composition at a concentration of 0.001 to 1 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the water is produced water or flowback water.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the injecting is into a first wellbore connected to the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing fractured rock formation, and
wherein the collecting is from a second wellbore that is connected to the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing fractured rock formation.