skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Experimental investigation of the effects of temperature, pressure, and crude oil composition on interfacial properties

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5362024

The wettability of the fluid/rock system affects the distribution of fluids within a porous medium and this distribution in turn has a strong effect on displacement behaviour and oil recovery efficiency. The present work is an investigation on the influence of temperature, pressure, and oil composition on the wettability of a specific carbonate reservoir. Contact angle measurements were used to quantify wettabilities on calcium carbonate crystals. The experimental conditions included varying temperature and pressure using both dead crude oil and oil recombined to the original bubble point. In addition to quantification of wetting properties, interfacial tension between oil and water was measured, and formation of rigid films was observed. A complete reversal from a predominantly oil-wet system at lower temperatures to a predominantly water-wet system at higher temperatures was found. Pressure alone had little effect on the wettability of the system. Interfacial tension between crude oil and brine showed an increase with temperature under anaerobic conditions, whereas at aerobic conditions, interfacial tension decreased with temperature. The tendency to form rigid films at the crude oil/brine interface was found to be temperature dependent. The formation of rigid films was stronger at lower temperatures.

Research Organization:
Petroleum Technology Research Inst.
OSTI ID:
5362024
Report Number(s):
CONF-8310121-
Journal Information:
Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE 12124; Conference: SPE annual technical conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 5 Oct 1983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English