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Formation permeability damage induced by completion brines

Journal Article · · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA)
OSTI ID:6929804
 [1];  [2]
  1. Halliburton Reservoir Services, Dallas, TX (US)
  2. Shell Offshore Inc., New Orleans, LA (US)

In a laboratory study to determine permeability changes induced by flooding large Berea and Casper sandstone cores with NaCl and KCl brine, the concentration of each brine was incrementally increased from 0 to 22 wt% and then decreased from 22 to 0 wt%. In both sandstones, the permeability to KCl brines increased noticeably with increases in KCl concentration up to 10 wt%. Permeability remained at the higher levels throughout the remainder of each flood until a critically low salinity level was reached, where dispersion of the interstitial fines took place. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the produced formation fines and scanning electron micrographs of the sandstone pore surfaces indicate that the improved permeability was primarily a result of alteration of illite in the clay minerals in the sandstones.

OSTI ID:
6929804
Journal Information:
Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA) Vol. 42:4; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English