Enhancing foam stability using allium sativum oil

Abstract

Foaming fluid composition and methods for enhanced oil recovery are provided with enhanced foaming properties. The foaming composition may include a surfactant and allium sativum oil where allium sativum oil may be included in an amount ranging from 20 to 75 vol % in respect to the total volume of the surfactant and the allium sativum oil. Methods of enhancing recovery of oil from an oil containing formation are also provided. Methods may include injecting a foaming composition into the oil containing formation, where the foaming composition may include a surfactant and allium sativum oil. Methods may also include the foaming composition that includes allium sativum oil in an amount ranging from 20 to 75 vol % in respect to the total volume of the surfactant and the allium sativum oil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foaming composition for enhanced oil recovery comprising:
 a surfactant; and   allium sativum oil, wherein the foaming composition comprises allium sativum oil in an amount ranging from 20 to 75 vol % in respect to the total volume of the surfactant and the allium sativum oil.   
     
     
         2 . The foaming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 0.4 vol % surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . The foaming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         4 . The foaming composition of  claim 3 , wherein the anionic surfactant is one or more selected from the group consisting of alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyldiphenyloxide sulfonates and petroleum sulfonates. 
     
     
         5 . The foaming composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 0.4 vol % allium sativum oil. 
     
     
         6 . The foaming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a combined amount of allium sativum and surfactant in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 1.0 vol %. 
     
     
         7 . The foaming composition of  claim 1 , wherein foaming composition is prepared with a gas selected from the group consisting of one or more of CO 2 , N 2 , methane, mixtures of methane with any of ethane, propane, or butane, flue gas and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method of enhancing recovery of oil from an oil containing formation comprising steps of:
 injecting a foaming composition into the oil containing formation, wherein the foaming composition comprises a surfactant and allium sativum oil, wherein the foaming composition comprises allium sativum oil in an amount ranging from 20 to 75 vol % in respect to the total volume of the surfactant and the allium sativum oil.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the foaming composition further comprises water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 0.4 vol % surfactant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 10 , wherein surfactant is one or more selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 11 , wherein the anionic surfactant is one or more selected from the group consisting of alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkyldiphenyloxide sulfonates, and petroleum sulfonates. 
     
     
         13 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 0.4 vol % allium sativum oil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises a combined amount of allium sativum and the surfactant in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 1.0 vol %. 
     
     
         15 . The method of enhancing recovery of oil of  claim 9 , wherein the foaming composition is prepared with a gas selected from the group consisting of one or more of CO 2 , N 2 , methane, mixtures of methane with any of ethane, propane, or butane, flue gas and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the foaming composition is prepared at the surface, prior to the injecting of the foam composition into a wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the foaming composition is mixed with the gas in an injection line prior to be injected into the oil containing formation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the foam is generated in situ within the oil containing formation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the foam is generated with N 2  gas. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the foaming composition is prepared in deionized water.