Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding

Abstract Low-salinity (LS) water flooding mechanism enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in sandstone has been extensively debated in the literature. Many mechanisms have been proposed, but these proposed mechanisms remain a topic of debate. In this study, we propose to quantify control of mineral com...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hasan N. Al-Saedi, Ralph E. Flori, Soura K. Al-Jaberi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018-09-01
Series:Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-018-0548-y
_version_ 1818024605186523136
author Hasan N. Al-Saedi
Ralph E. Flori
Soura K. Al-Jaberi
author_facet Hasan N. Al-Saedi
Ralph E. Flori
Soura K. Al-Jaberi
author_sort Hasan N. Al-Saedi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Low-salinity (LS) water flooding mechanism enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in sandstone has been extensively debated in the literature. Many mechanisms have been proposed, but these proposed mechanisms remain a topic of debate. In this study, we propose to quantify control of mineral composition and water chemistry on water/rock interactions and wettability change during low-salinity waterflooding of spatially heterogeneous sandstone porous media. We intended to identify the dominant process of wettability alteration through considering water–rock interaction mechanisms containing/non-containing clays. Water chemistry partially determines the dominant wettability alteration. This includes salinity, type of ions, and possibly pH. Sandstone core and free clay sand core were prepared in chromatography columns and were water flooded with high/low/high-salinity water at different temperatures. Brine with high salinity 100,000 ppm was injected to simulate formation water, then, inflow low-salinity water 1100 ppm at different temperatures. Concentrations of Ca2+ and CH3COO− and pH were recorded. The core contains quartz only, to investigate the role of clay in the mechanism of smart water EOR. The results proved that during flooding the free clay core by low-salinity water the carboxylic acid detached from the sand, albeit not as great as that of the clay-containing cores. On the other hand, ICP-OES showed a noteworthy desorption of Ca2+ from the free clay core surface. That indicates further RCOO− recovery in the absence of clay. It has been observed that during flooding by LS water, the pH increased significantly. Also, as the temperature increased the pH of the LS water decreased and amount of Ca2+ decreased in the effluent. This work presents the results of forced imbibition experiments to examine the effect of clay in sandstone during LS flooding EOR.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T04:02:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bdf72e3966374b30a07b71faba6e8ef3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2190-0558
2190-0566
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T04:02:52Z
publishDate 2018-09-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
spelling doaj.art-bdf72e3966374b30a07b71faba6e8ef32022-12-22T02:02:56ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662018-09-01921475148310.1007/s13202-018-0548-yEliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water floodingHasan N. Al-Saedi0Ralph E. Flori1Soura K. Al-Jaberi2Deptartment of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyDeptartment of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissan Oil CompanyAbstract Low-salinity (LS) water flooding mechanism enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in sandstone has been extensively debated in the literature. Many mechanisms have been proposed, but these proposed mechanisms remain a topic of debate. In this study, we propose to quantify control of mineral composition and water chemistry on water/rock interactions and wettability change during low-salinity waterflooding of spatially heterogeneous sandstone porous media. We intended to identify the dominant process of wettability alteration through considering water–rock interaction mechanisms containing/non-containing clays. Water chemistry partially determines the dominant wettability alteration. This includes salinity, type of ions, and possibly pH. Sandstone core and free clay sand core were prepared in chromatography columns and were water flooded with high/low/high-salinity water at different temperatures. Brine with high salinity 100,000 ppm was injected to simulate formation water, then, inflow low-salinity water 1100 ppm at different temperatures. Concentrations of Ca2+ and CH3COO− and pH were recorded. The core contains quartz only, to investigate the role of clay in the mechanism of smart water EOR. The results proved that during flooding the free clay core by low-salinity water the carboxylic acid detached from the sand, albeit not as great as that of the clay-containing cores. On the other hand, ICP-OES showed a noteworthy desorption of Ca2+ from the free clay core surface. That indicates further RCOO− recovery in the absence of clay. It has been observed that during flooding by LS water, the pH increased significantly. Also, as the temperature increased the pH of the LS water decreased and amount of Ca2+ decreased in the effluent. This work presents the results of forced imbibition experiments to examine the effect of clay in sandstone during LS flooding EOR.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-018-0548-yLSWFCation desorptionGeochemistryEOR
spellingShingle Hasan N. Al-Saedi
Ralph E. Flori
Soura K. Al-Jaberi
Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
LSWF
Cation desorption
Geochemistry
EOR
title Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
title_full Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
title_fullStr Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
title_full_unstemmed Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
title_short Eliminate the role of clay in sandstone: EOR low salinity water flooding
title_sort eliminate the role of clay in sandstone eor low salinity water flooding
topic LSWF
Cation desorption
Geochemistry
EOR
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-018-0548-y
work_keys_str_mv AT hasannalsaedi eliminatetheroleofclayinsandstoneeorlowsalinitywaterflooding
AT ralpheflori eliminatetheroleofclayinsandstoneeorlowsalinitywaterflooding
AT sourakaljaberi eliminatetheroleofclayinsandstoneeorlowsalinitywaterflooding