Methods for determining wettability alteration
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsMIKHAIL STUKAN, WAEL ABDALLAH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protocol for determining the effect of water composition on surface alteration is described using simple and less preparation sensitive, brine/oil and rock/brine/air systems when compared to conventional rock/brine/oil measurement methods. A model glass/brine/oil system is described and it is demonstrated that experimental measurements of contact angle obtained using a conventional approach agree well with the contact angles predicted using the proposed protocol.
Claims30
A method for determining wettability alteration due to fluid changes, the method comprising:
- measuring interfacial tension between a first liquid and a second fluid;
- measuring interfacial tension between the first liquid and a third fluid;
- measuring surface tension between the second fluid and a first reference fluid;
- measuring surface tension between the third fluid and the first reference fluid;
- measuring contact angle of the first liquid and a first solid surface in a second reference fluid;
- measuring contact angle of the second fluid and the first solid surface in the first reference fluid;
- measuring contact angle of the third fluid and the first solid surface in the first reference fluid;
- and
- determining a change in wettability for the first solid surface and the first liquid due to a change from the second fluid to the third fluid based at least in part on the measurements of interfacial tensions, surface tensions and contact angles.
A system for determining wettability alteration due to fluid changes, the system comprising a computer configured and programmed to receive data representing measurements of (1) interfacial tension between a first liquid and a second fluid, (2) interfacial tension between the first liquid and a third fluid, (3) surface tension between the second fluid and a first reference fluid, (4) surface tension between the third fluid and the first reference fluid, (5) contact angle of the first liquid and a first solid surface in a second reference fluid, (6) contact angle of the second fluid and the first solid surface in the second reference fluid, and (7) contact angle of the third fluid and the first solid surface in the first reference fluid, and to determine a change in wettability for the first solid surface and the first liquid due to a change from the second fluid to the third fluid, the determination being based at least in part on the data representing the measurements of interfacial tensions, surface tensions and contact angles.
A method for determining wettability alteration of a rock surface by oil due to brine concentration changes, the method comprising:
- measuring interfacial tension between an oil and a first brine composition;
- measuring interfacial tension between the first oil and a second brine composition;
- measuring surface tension between the first brine composition and air;
- measuring surface tension between the second brine composition and air;
- measuring contact angle of the oil and a first solid surface in fresh water, the first solid surface being a surface from a core sample of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir rock formation;
- measuring contact angle of the first brine composition and the first solid surface in fresh water;
- measuring contact angle of the second brine composition and the first solid surface in fresh water;
- and
- determining a change in wettability for the first solid surface and the oil due to a change from the first brine composition to the second brine composition based at least in part on the measurements of interfacial tensions, surface tensions and contact angles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.