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The effect of organic acids on wettability of sandstone and carbonate rocks

Journal Article · · Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Engineered Salinity, Laramie, WY (United States)

This paper examines the role of crude oil’s organic acid surface active compounds (SAC) in determining the reservoir wettability over a range of salinities and temperatures. To isolate the effects of individual SACs, this project used model oil mixtures of pure decane and single SACs to represent the oleic phase. Due to the large number of experiments in this study, we used wettability measurement method by the modified flotation technique (MFT) to produce fast, reliable, and quantitative results. The results showed that oil wetting by decane increased with temperature for carbonate rocks. Sandstones oil wetting showed little temperature dependency. The presence of long-chained acids in decane increased oil wetting in sandstone and carbonate rocks as salinity was lowered, while the short-chained acid increased water wetting under the same conditions. The effect of organic acids on wettability was slightly enhanced with increasing temperature for all rock types.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1429692
Report Number(s):
SAND--2017-12495J; PII: S0920410518300421
Journal Information:
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering Journal Issue: C Vol. 165; ISSN 0920-4105
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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