Interfacial effects in immiscible liquid-liquid displacement through porous media

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6293285

Nguyen, H H; Bagster, D F

A study was made of the effect of interfacial tension (IFT) on the immisciple displacement of oil by water through water-wet-porous media, commonly found in practice. This was done through the comparison of the displacement efficiencies of 2 binary liquid-systems: oil-water (immiscible) and sucrose solution-water (miscible). The liquids were choosen and prepared such that both systems had identical viscosity ratio and density difference. Results of the study have shown that the displacement efficiency was higher in the immiscible case. This suggests that IFT should be increased to improve the recovery of oil under water-wet-conditions. This conclusion is explained by the fact that the capillary force, due to IFT, is in the direction of the driving force, under the waterflooding condition. The results also indicate that the size of the porous bed is an important factor determining the magnitude of the IFT effect. 10 references.

• OSTI ID: 6293285
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE-5996; ISSN SEAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERFACES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
VISCOSITY
WATER
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS