Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Tests show organic clay stabilizers prevent permeability loss

Journal Article · · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)
OSTI ID:7007261
 [1]
  1. Halliburton Energy Services, Duncan, OK (United States)

Water sensitivity of sandstones can result in rapid and severe permeability impairment if freshwater displaces saline connate water from pore spaces of formation rock. Reduced permeability can decrease the production potential of a well. Laboratory test on sandstone cores show that organic clay stabilizers (OCS) are as effective at preventing permeability reduction from freshwater exposure as commonly used potassium chloride (KCl). Although organic clay stabilizers are widely used, only limited laboratory testing has confirmed their effectiveness at preventing permeability reduction attributable to a formation's water sensitivity. Existing test results on one class of OCS indicated satisfactory performance as a KCl replacement; however, the test procedure included only short cores and the simulated brine used for testing was sodium chloride (NaCl) at 5 % concentration. The recent work included a series of short-core and long-core laboratory tests made at various salinity levels and OCS concentrations. The OCS tested is a high-concentration, non-surface active, ammonium salt in an aqueous fluid.

OSTI ID:
7007261
Journal Information:
Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 92:37; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Formation permeability damage induced by completion brines
Journal Article · Sat Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA) · OSTI ID:6929804

Stabilizing clays with potassium hydroxide
Conference · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5699834

Restoring permeability to water-damaged pays
Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 23:00:00 EST 1970 · Oil Gas J.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5666232