Interfacial and Colloidal Forces Governing Oil Droplet Displacement: Implications for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Colloids and Interfaces

Harbottle, David¹  Charpentier, Thibaut V. J.²  Pradilla, Diego³  Tangparitkul, Suparit⁴ 

[1] Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.;Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;Grupo de Diseño de Producto y de Proceso (GDPP), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 este No. 18A-12, Edificio Mario Laserna, Piso 7, Bogotá 111711, Colombia;School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

关键词: enhanced oil recovery;    oil film displacement;    colloid;    interfacial science;    wettability;    surfactants;    nanoparticle fluids;   

DOI  :  10.3390/colloids2030030

学科分类：物理化学和理论化学

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Growing oil demand and the gradual depletion of conventional oil reserves by primary extraction has highlighted the need for enhanced oil recovery techniques to increase the potential of existing reservoirs and facilitate the recovery of more complex unconventional oils. This paper describes the interfacial and colloidal forces governing oil film displacement from solid surfaces. Direct contact of oil with the reservoir rock transforms the solid surface from a water-wet to neutrally-wet and oil-wet as a result of the deposition of polar components of the crude oil, with lower oil recovery from oil-wet reservoirs. To enhance oil recovery, chemicals can be added to the injection water to modify the oil-water interfacial tension and solid-oil-water three-phase contact angle. In the presence of certain surfactants and nanoparticles, a ruptured oil film will dewet to a new equilibrium contact angle, reducing the work of adhesion to detach an oil droplet from the solid surface. Dynamics of contact-line displacement are considered and the effect of surface active agents on enhancing oil displacement discussed. The paper is intended to provide an overview of the interfacial and colloidal forces controlling the process of oil film displacement and droplet detachment for enhanced oil recovery. A comprehensive summary of chemicals tested is provided.

【 授权许可】

CC BY