Functional wettability in carbonate reservoirs
Oil adsorbs to carbonate reservoirs indirectly through a relatively thick separating water layer, and directly to the surface through a relatively thin intervening water layer. Whereas directly sorbed oil desorbs slowly and incompletely in response to changes in reservoir conditions, indirectly sorbed oil can be rapidly desorbed by changing the chemistry of the separating water layer. The additional recovery might be as much as 30% original oil in place (OOIP) above the ~30% OOIP recovered from carbonates through reservoir depressurization (primary production) and viscous displacement (waterflooding). Electrostatic adhesive forces are the dominant control over carbonate reservoir wettability. A surface complexation model that quantifies electrostatic adhesion accurately predicts oil recovery trends for carbonates. Furthermore, the approach should therefore be useful for estimating initial wettability and designing fluids that improve oil recovery.
- Authors:
-
[1]
; [2]
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Engineered Salinity LLC, Laramie, WY (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2016-7622J
Journal ID: ISSN 0887-0624; 646430
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Energy and Fuels
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 30; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 0887-0624
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Research Org:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 02 PETROLEUM
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1338317
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript (DOE)
- Publisher's Version of Record
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b01895