Influence of solid-liquid-liquid interactions on multiphase transport behavior in porous media

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2005

Abstract

The flow of oil, water and gas in the complex network of paths in petroleum reservoir rocks constitutes probably the most complex embodiment of interfacial interactions and their consequences on multiphase transport behavior in porous media. The fact that each of the fluid phases comprises of multiple chemical components that seek to establish their own mass transfer equilibria between phases adds another layer of complexity. These fundamental interactions still remain to be explored and better understood in spite of the fact that the practical need for producing oil and gas has resulted in the development of technologies for enhancing their recoveries. Surfactant-induced alterations in solid-liquid-liquid interactions to enhance multiphase flow characteristics is one such technology that is being explored in this paper to understand the underlying interfacial phenomena of adhesion, spreading, and wetting-film stability and their influence on flow through porous media. In this paper, we examine the effect of two types of surfactants (one nonionic and the other anionic) on wettability and multiphase flow characteristics by conducting contact angle measurements and flow tests through porous media using three different rock-fluids systems. The contact angle measurements have been made using the Dual-Drop Dual-Crystal (DDDC) technique and the multiphase flow characteristics are reported as oil-water relative permeabilities computed using a simulator by history matching the pressure drop and production data obtained during flow tests. The contact angle measurements, experimental oil recoveries, shifts in the ratio of end-point relative permeabilities and cross-over point water saturations, all indicate significant influence of both these surfactants on wettability as well as multiphase transport behavior. The wettability shifts induced by the surfactants as measured by contact angles appear to correlate well with multiphase flow characteristics. This study recognizes the importance of accurate initial native wettability characterization of the rock-fluids system to fully understand the surfactant-induced modifications in mutiphase flow characteristics. Thus this paper discusses the capability of dilute surfactants to alter rock-fluids interactions and their implications in improved oil recovery applications. © 2005 IEEE.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Proceedings - 2005 International Conference on MEMS, NANO and Smart Systems, ICMENS 2005

First Page

17

Last Page

18

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