Evaluating physicochemical properties of crude oil as indicators of low-salinity-induced wettability alteration in carbonate minerals.

ABSTRACT: The injection of low-salinity brine enhances oil recovery by altering the mineral wettability in carbonate reservoirs. However, the reported effectiveness of low-salinity water varies significantly in the literature, and the underlying mechanism of wettability alteration is controversial. In this work, we investigate the relationships between characteristics of crude oils and the oils' response to low-salinity water in a spontaneous imbibition test, aiming (1) to identify suitable indicators of the effectiveness of low-salinity water and (2) to evaluate possible mechanisms of low-salinity-induced wettability alteration, including rock/oil charge repulsion and microdispersion formation. Seven oils are tested by spontaneous imbibition and fully characterized in terms of their acidity, zeta p

SUBMITTER: Song J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7048854 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature