Fluoropolymers to reduce retention of nanosurfactants to carbonate reservoir rock for applications in oil fields

A nanosurfactant composition suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for enhanced oil recovery operations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising:

• a nanoassembly, the nanoassembly comprising:
• a hydrophobic interior, the hydrophobic interior comprising:
• petroleum sulfonate;
• a hydrophobic portion of a zwitterionic co-surfactant;
• and
• mineral oil;
• and
• a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophilic exterior comprising:
• a hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant;
• and
• an aqueous environment, the aqueous environment comprising:
• a functionalized zwitterionic copolymer;
• and divalent cations,
• wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant is configured to interact with the functionalized zwitterionic copolymer present in the aqueous environment,
• wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant is configured to stabilize the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the aqueous environment,
• wherein the mineral oil is configured to facilitate containment of the petroleum sulfonate in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly.

A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation a nanosurfactant composition, the nanosurfactant composition formed by the steps of:
• combining a sulfonate surfactant and an oil to form a first mixture;
• combining the first mixture, a zwitterionic co-surfactant, and fresh water to form a second mixture;
• combining the second mixture, a functionalized zwitterionic copolymer, and the fresh water to form a third mixture;
• and
• combining the third mixture and saline water to form the nanosurfactant composition, the saline water comprising divalent cations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising a nanoassembly,
• wherein the nanoassembly has a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophobic interior comprising the sulfonate surfactant, a hydrophobic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant, and the oil, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant interacting with the functionalized zwitterionic copolymer present in an aqueous environment,
• wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant stabilizes the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the saline water,
• wherein the oil facilitates containment of the sulfonate surfactant in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly;
• and
• driving the nanosurfactant composition through the hydrocarbon-bearing formation to displace the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, wherein the nanoassembly reduces interfacial tension between the hydrocarbons and the saline water.

A method of producing a nanosurfactant composition suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for enhanced oil recovery operations, the method comprising the steps of:

• combining a sulfonate surfactant, an oil, and fresh water to form a first mixture;
• combining a zwitterionic co-surfactant and the fresh water to form a second mixture;
• combining a functionalized zwitterionic copolymer and the fresh water to form a third mixture;
• combining the first mixture, the second mixture, and the third mixture to form a fourth mixture;
• and
• combining the fourth mixture and saline water to form the nanosurfactant composition, the saline water comprising divalent cations, the nanosurfactant composition comprising a nanoassembly,
• wherein the nanoassembly has a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior, the hydrophobic interior comprising the sulfonate surfactant, a hydrophobic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant, and the oil, the hydrophilic exterior comprising a hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant interacting with the functionalized zwitterionic copolymer present in an aqueous environment,
• wherein the hydrophilic portion of the zwitterionic co-surfactant stabilizes the nanoassembly by interacting with the divalent cations present in the saline water,
• wherein the oil facilitates containment of the sulfonate surfactant in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoassembly.