Effects of non-active salt and sulfate ion on smart waterflooding in a U.A.E. carbonate reservoir
[Thesis]
Deepthi Thomas Veliyathuparambil
Sarma, Hemanta
The Petroleum Institute (United Arab Emirates)
2014
109
Committee members: AlSumaiti, Ali; Rahman, Mohammed Motiur; Williams, John
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-321-32456-3
M.S.
Petroleum Engineering
The Petroleum Institute (United Arab Emirates)
2014
Recent studies have shown that decreasing the salinity and varying the ionic composition of the water that is injected into the reservoir alters crude oil/brine/rock interaction and improves recovery. Several laboratory studies have been conducted and are underway, while a few pilot tests have also been initialized. The majority of the studies were performed on sandstone reservoirs; however, few tests have also been performed on carbonate reservoirs. With few of the UAE carbonate reservoirs reaching their maturity stage and with still considerable oil left behind; there is a need for a more effective approach. Waterflooding was previously viewed as a physical process. However, smart waterflood that alters the wettability of the crude oil/brine/rock (CBR) interaction, in addition to conventional viscous forces, has been seen to have promising results. Smart waterflood is the alteration of the concentration of the active and/or non-active ions or the salinity of the injected water that has shown to alter the initial equilibrium established between the CBR in recent studies. This approach is economically more feasible than other EOR methods and also conforms to the Kyoto protocol as the U.A.E is a signatory to this protocol.