Fine Migration Control in Sandstones: Surface Force Analysis and Application of DLVO Theory

Abstract

Formation damage caused by fine migration and straining is a well-documented phenomenon in sandstone reservoirs. Fine migration and the associated permeability decline have been observed in various experimental studies, and this phenomenon has been broadly explained by the analysis of surface forces between fines and sand grains. The Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek (DLVO) theory is a useful tool to help understand and model the fine release, migration, and control phenomena within porous media by quantifying the total interaction energy of the fine−brine−rock (FBR) system. Fine migration is mainly caused by changes in the attractive and repulsive surface forces, which are triggered by mud invasion during drilling activity, the utilization of completion fluid, acidizing treatment, and water injection into the reservoir during secondary and tertiary recovery operations. Increasing pH and decreasing water salinity collectively affect the attractive and repulsive forces and, at a specific value of pH, and critical salt concentration (CSC), the total interaction energy of the FBR system (V T ) shifts from negative to positive, indicating the initiation of fine release. Maintaining the system pH, setting the salinity above the CSC, tuning the ionic composition of injected water, and using nanoparticles (NPs) are practical options to control fine migration. DLVO modeling elucidates the total interaction energy between fines and sand grains based on the calculation of surface forces of the system. In this context, zeta potential is an important indicator of an increase or decrease in repulsive forces. Using available data, two correlations have been developed to calculate the zeta potential for sandstone reservoirs in high-and low-salinity environments and validated with experimental values. Based on surface force analysis, the CSC is predicted by the DLVO model; it is in close agreement with the experimental value from the literature. The critical pH value is also estimated for alkaline flooding. Model results confirm that the application of NPs and the presence of divalent ions increase the attractive force and help to mitigate the fine migration problem. Hence, a new insight into the analysis of quantified surface forces is presented in current research work by the practical application of the DLVO theory to model fine migration initiation under the influence of injection water chemistry.

Biosorption of Cr(VI) Using Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated from the Waterless Pulping of Waste Cotton Cloths with Supercritical CO2: Isothermal, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics Studies

“…The Zeta potential analysis of the CNCs found a negative surface charge (−32.6 mV) with a conductivity of 0.0283 mS/cm. Similarly, Metzer et al [ 39 ] and Muneer et al [ 40 ] reported that the CNCs fabricated with the sulphuric acid hydrolysis process had a negative zeta potential and negative surface charge. This is because of the forming of organosulfate (-OSO 3 − ) groups on the surface of the cellulose during sulphuric acid hydrolysis of the cellulosic fiber [ 41 ].…”

“…This is because of the forming of organosulfate (-OSO 3 − ) groups on the surface of the cellulose during sulphuric acid hydrolysis of the cellulosic fiber [ 41 ]. However, the surface charge modification during the acid hydrolysis process increased the defibrillation of the cellulose because of the electrostatic repulsion between the similar negative surface charge [ 40 ]. Joseph and Singhvi [ 42 ] reported that a negative Zeta potential (between −30 mV to −40 mV) is considered a good stability of colloidal for dispersion due to a sufficient electrostatic repulsive force (i.e., repel each other) between individual particles.…”

A Novel Technique for Large-Scale Fabrication of 3D Colloidal Crystals: Suspending Self-Assembly in Water Medium (SSAM)

“…The interactive force between microspheres changes with the variation of their spacing, which is the result of the competition between electrostatic repulsion and van der Waals attractive forces based on DLVO theory. 24,25 Meanwhile, a threshold exists during the evaporation, and once the distance is smaller than the threshold, the force will change from repulsion to attractive forces; that is, the van der Waals force becomes dominant immediately allowing the PS microspheres to contact each other. 26,27 It should be noteworthy that the threshold is far smaller than the diameter of PS microspheres so that longrange ordered assembly occurs, instead of coagulation.…”

“…The colorful suspension is subjected to further evaporation, during which PS colloidal crystals are forced to approach each other without breaking the ordered arrangement. The interactive force between microspheres changes with the variation of their spacing, which is the result of the competition between electrostatic repulsion and van der Waals attractive forces based on DLVO theory. , Meanwhile, a threshold exists during the evaporation, and once the distance is smaller than the threshold, the force will change from repulsion to attractive forces; that is, the van der Waals force becomes dominant immediately allowing the PS microspheres to contact each other. , It should be noteworthy that the threshold is far smaller than the diameter of PS microspheres so that long-range ordered assembly occurs, instead of coagulation . Most importantly, this transformation process is so short that the microspheres finally assembled into colloidal crystals without breaking the ordered arrangement.…”

Prediction of Critical pH for Fines Migration Pre and Post Nanofluid Treatment in Sandstone Reservoirs using the DLVO Modelling

“…Fine particles remain attached to sand grains mainly due to the van der Waals force, and the strength of this force is proportional to the fine particle size as well as the distance from the surface of the sand that separates them. The electric double layer repulsion force, on the other hand, tends to detach fine particles from the rock surface, and the zeta potential of the SFB system is the primary factor that determines the strength of this potential [6]. Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) proposed a theory based on surface force quantification and analysis that can be used to model the dynamic behaviour of a sand-fine-brine system and investigate the effect of various crucial factors on fine migration initiation [7]- [9].…”