Wettability in complex porous materials, the mixed-wet state, and its relationship to surface roughness.

ABSTRACT: A quantitative in situ characterization of the impact of surface roughness on wettability in porous media is currently lacking. We use reservoir condition micrometer-resolution X-ray tomography combined with automated methods for the measurement of contact angle, interfacial curvature, and surface roughness to examine fluid/fluid and fluid/solid interfaces inside a porous material. We study oil and water in the pore space of limestone from a giant producing oilfield, acquiring millions of measurements of curvature and contact angle on three millimeter-sized samples. We identify a distinct wetting state with a broad distribution of contact angle at the submillimeter scale with a mix of water-wet and water-repellent regions. Importantly, this state allows both fluid phases to flow simultaneo

SUBMITTER: AlRatrout A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6130345 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature