A critical review of carbonate reservoir wettability modification during low salinity waterflooding
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Date
2022-01-12
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Petroleum
Abstract
The nature of carbonate reservoirs promotes the adsorption of oil onto the rock surface hence making oil
recovery a challenge even with the interventions of varied chemical EOR methods. Recently, low salinity
water flooding has become of great interest since it is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Although low salinity waterflooding has been highly investigated in sandstone reservoirs, it is not the
same for carbonate reservoirs due to its complexities. Nonetheless, it has been proposed as a favourable
technique to mobilise the trapped oil in carbonate reservoirs. Wettability alteration is regarded as the
most accepted mechanism for low salinity flooding but has not been well understood making field scale
applications doubtful. In this paper, we present a detailed review of the wettability alteration mechanisms in carbonate reservoirs during low salinity waterflooding. Parameters influencing wettability
alteration in carbonates and the interactions that occur at the rock/brine/oil interface are also presented.
The different methods utilised for wettability measurements during low salinity waterflooding are also
reviewed including their drawbacks and advantages and recommendations. This will provide an
improved understanding of the low salinity flooding application in carbonate reservoirs.
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Perekaboere Ivy Sagbana, Kwame Sarkodie, Wilberforce Aggrey Nkrumah, A critical review of carbonate reservoir wettability modification during low salinity waterflooding, Petroleum, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2023, Pages 317-330,