Development of new oil/water partitioning tracers for the determination of residual oil saturation in the inter-well region of water-flooded reservoirs

Abstract

is credited to have said "the value of achievement lies in the achieving." This is true for everything in life, and I feel very lucky and thankful for all the people I worked with in the path leading to this thesis. It is also their achievement, as it would not be possible without them. I learned and was trained by the best in the field, who also showed me that an open-mind, humility, and hard-work pave the way forward. I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor Tor Bjørnstad and Professor Svein Magne Skjaeveland. Thank you, Tor, for all the insights, trust, freedom, patience, and advice! You truly are a role model, and I will be happy if I become half of what you are, both as a researcher and as a person. I could not have done this without you! Thank you Svein for all the kind and motivating words, for the example, and for the rigor with flexibility. This would not happen without you! I want to thank the team of the "Tracer Technology department" at IFE, particularly Sissel Opsahl Viig for sharing her knowledge, time, patience, and good humour, as well as for the help in disassembling and assembling instrumentation! Per Arne Hubred, one of the best humoured and cleverest engineers I ever met, who made the "magic happen" whenever experimental needs would hit a wall. Are Haugen, for all the trouble and help in welcoming me to a new workplace and a new country. Laura Ferrando-Climent, for all the small talk in coffee breaks, confidences, incentive, the friendship, and the sharing of insights about good scientific work. A special thank you to Helge Stray, my office colleague, "informal supervisor", for all the fruitful discussions and exchange of ideas, reviews, motivation, friendship, and help with personal and logistic issues upon my arrival in Norway. I would also like to thank the National IOR Centre of Norway for employing me and all its fantastic members, past and present colleagues at UiS, IFE and NORSE, especially Mahmoud Ould Metidji for the fantastic comradeship, friendship, and collaboration, Thomas Brichart vi for introducing me to the "nano-world" and for the comradeship, Jaspreet Singh Sachdeva for the optimism, motivation, and the insights about pore-scale phenomena, Eystein Opsahl for the warmth, good humour, good discussions, and excellent collaboration. Additionally, I want to thank Aksel Hiorth, Jan Ludvig Vinningland, Merete Madla Vadland, Randi Valestrand, for all the gatherings, discussions, and insights always with lots of fun! Many more are left out, each with valuable contributions. Working with the National IOR Centre of Norway was an exciting and challenging experience, filled with excellent scientific discussions, exchange of ideas and fun, without forgetting our industry partners and their valuable input. Finally, my biggest thank you to my family! To Sofia, for the strength and constant support throughout all the challenges I faced even while facing her own! None of my achievements would be possible without you as my partner and inspiration! To Maria João and Francisca, for being t...