Molecular-scale origins of wettability at petroleum–brine–carbonate interfaces

Fenter, Paul; Qin, Tianzhu; Lee, Sang Soo; AlOtaibi, Mohammed B.; Ayirala, Subhash; Yousef, Ali A.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77393-4

Molecular-scale origins of wettability at petroleum–brine–carbonate interfaces

Journal Article · Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77393-4· OSTI ID:1776712

Fenter, Paul ^[1]; Qin, Tianzhu ^[1]; Lee, Sang Soo ^[1]; AlOtaibi, Mohammed B. ^[2]; Ayirala, Subhash ^[2]; Yousef, Ali A. ^[2]

Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran (Saudi Arabia)

Wettability control of carbonates is a central concept for enhanced petroleum recovery, but a mechanistic understanding of the associated molecular-scale chemical processes remains unclear. We directly probe the interface of calcium carbonate (calcite) with natural petroleum oil, synthetic petroleum analogues, and aqueous brines to understand the molecular scale behavior at this interface. The calcite–petroleum interface structure is similar whether or not calcite was previously exposed to an aqueous brine, and is characterized by an adsorbed interfacial layer, significant structural changes within the calcite surface, and increased surface roughness. No evidence for an often-assumed thin-brine wetting layer at the calcite–petroleum interface is observed. These features differ from those observed at the calcite–brine interface, and for parallel measurements using model synthetic petroleum mixtures (consisting of representative components, including dodecane, toluene, and asphaltene). Changes to the interface after petroleum displacement by aqueous brines are also discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Aramco Services Company; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1776712

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Molecular-scale origins of wettability at petroleum–brine–carbonate interfaces

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