A Novel Centrifugal Method for Wettability Characterization of Granulates

Abstract

The minimum force needed for transporting glass microspheres across oil/water (O/W) interfaces was determined experimentally. From this data, the O/W contact angle was calculated with a mathematical model. First, the measured minimum centrifugal force was combined with a simplified model leading to an approximate contact angle. Then the results were refined by a numerical solution of the accurate mathematical model of particle transport through an oil/water interface. The contact angles calculated by the suggested approach were compared with the contact angles measured by goniometry on flat glass surfaces in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Triton X-100, and Igepal CO-520 surfactants. The discrepancies were interpreted with the different surface chemistries/morphologies of glass microspheres and slides. The results show potential for this being a rapid screening method for chemical additives aimed at altering the wettability. This approach could be utilized in the oil and gas industry and especially to support enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Interfacial Tension (IFT) and Surface Alteration Interplay

“…imbibition rates, microscope examination, flotation, glass slide method, relative permeability curves, permeability saturation relationships, capillary pressure curves, displacement capillary pressure, reservoir logs, nuclear magnetic resonance, and dye adsorption [Ligthelm, et al, 2009;Abdallah, et al, 2007;Swenson, et al, 2011]. Many different methods have been proposed for measuring the wettability of rock surface that include reservoir core samples in either native or restored states.…”

Sensitivity Analysis of Interfacial Tension on Saturation and Relative Permeability Model Predictions

“…Understanding the reservoir and what can be done to maximize oil recovery continues to be an active area of research; quite simply we typically only produce about 30-40% of original oil in place (OOIP) (Swenson et al, 2011;Shen et al, 2006). The fundamentals dominating hydrocarbon recovery don't change but the reservoir models used to evaluate such recovery scenarios can be improved by better understanding the fundamental interaction mechanism of fluid/brine/rock systems and its chemistry.…”