Wettability determination and its effect on recovery efficiency

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1969 · Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/2338-PA· OSTI ID:7287961

Donaldson, E E; Thomas, R D; Lorenz, P B

A quantitative method for measuring the wettability of porous media containing brine and crude oil has been developed by the USBM using capillary pressure curves determined with a centrifuge. These measurements were reproducible within a standard deviation of 8.2 percent. The determination of fractional wettability has been compared with a method involving a combination of imbibition and displacement. Results are in agreement qualitatively as to whether a sample was water-wet or oil-wet. When tested with outcrop cores of Torpedo Sandstone, wetting tendencies of oils from widely different fields range from highly water-wet to almost neutral. Silicone-treated cores vary in extent of wettability in a predictable manner, becoming more oil-wet as the concentration of silicone used in core preparation is increased. Wettability, used as a parameter in designing linear mathematical models for predicting recovery efficiency, is equal in significance to viscosity and permeability.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Bartlesville, OK
• OSTI ID: 7287961
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States); ISSN SPTJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BRINES
CAPILLARY FLOW
CENTRIFUGES
CONCENTRATORS
DRILL CORES
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING METHODS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICONES
SILOXANES
VISCOSITY
WETTABILITY