<![CDATA[This study evaluates the characteristics and effectiveness of two anionic surfactants, palm oil-based Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES) and synthetic detergent-based Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), for chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Tests were performed at five concentrations (0.5–1.7%) under two salinities (4,000 and 15,000 ppm) and two temperatures (60°C and 90°C), evaluating density, aqueous stability, phase behavior, interfacial tension (IFT), and oil recovery via coreflooding on Berea sandstone cores. Density decreased with rising temperature but increased with concentration for both surfactants. MES at 1.1% and 4,000 ppm salinity formed the most stable Winsor Type III middle-phase emulsion at 60°C, persisting 14 days, with the lowest IFT (0.05112 mN/m, low IFT). At 15,000 ppm, the optimum MES concentration shifted to 1.4–1.7%, also yielding stable middle-phase emulsions. ALS formed a middle-phase emulsion only under limited conditions (0.5%; 4,000 ppm; 60°C), with poor stability and a much higher IFT (1.6348 mN/m). Coreflooding showed MES 1.1% achieved the highest cumulative recovery factor (RF) of 82.76%, a 27.59-point gain over waterflooding, outperforming ALS 0.5%, which reached only 54.38% RF with a 20.00-point gain. Overall, MES is recommended as the superior EOR surfactant for sandstone reservoirs with low-to-moderate salinity and temperatures up to 60°C.]]>
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