Synthesis Nanocomposite Iron Oxide (Fe2O3)-Xanthan Gum for Chemical Flooding in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Technology
Yong Richard Sriwijaya1, Paramita Jaya Ratri1*, Tirta Rona Mayangsari1,Azis Adharis1, Shabrina Sri Riswati 2

1. Departemen Chemistry, Faculty Science and Computer, Universitas Pertamina
2. Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta, 11440, Indonesia

Abstract

Chemical Flooding is a type of tertiary injection by injecting chemical material such as xanthan gum or hydrolyzed polyacrylamide have been reported successfully by % recovery around 60%. The development of the surfactant material as enhanced oil recovery is needed in order to provide the oil consumption. By the increasing viscosity in the crude oil, the conventional chemical flooding technology is not more affective. Therefore, the combination of chemical flooding with thermolysis technique start to develop. Silicate based nanoparticle such as zeolite or metal oxide has catalytic properties that can reduce the heavy crude oil viscosity. Xanthan gum as a biopolymer give % oil recovery higher than HPAM. However the modified xanthan gum with nanoparticle is quite limited number of paper. The objective of this research is to modify the xanthan gum with nanoparticle Fe2O3 in order to increasing its thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. In this present study, several variation composition of xanthan gum and nanoparticle Fe2O3 have been made by the ratio 1:2 - 1:1 - and 2:1. Ratio 1:1 of nanocomposite is the optimum ratio in reducing contact angle in wettability for light crude oil. Meanwhile in heavy crude oil at 75oC the optimum composition is also nanocomposite with ratio 1:1.

Keywords: Xanthan gum, Fe2O3, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Wettability

Topic: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry