thixotropic properties and thermal stability of xanthan gum biopolymer solutions for enhanced oil recovery

This study investigated the potential applications of xanthan gum (xg) at different salinities and temperatures as a biopolymer-flooding agent for an enhanced oil recovery process. rheological and thixotropical measurements were performed to realize the shear viscosity alteration when the polymer solutios applied under a variation of salinities and temperatures. the results showed that xg biopolymer solutions have non-newtonian fluid characteristics like pseudoplasticity at each concentrations in any temperatures of 25, 40, 55 or 70 °c. consequently, due to the beneficial and practical achieved results xg biopolymer flooding is a suitable and proper option under oil reservoir conditions.