TY - JOUR
T1 - A comprehensive review of low salinity/engineered water injections and their applications in sandstone and carbonate rocks
AU - Al-Shalabi, Emad W.
AU - Sepehrnoori, Kamy
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for funding this research.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - The low salinity/engineered water injection techniques (LSWI/EWI) have become one of the most important research topics in the oil industry because of their possible advantages for improving oil recovery compared to conventional seawater injection. Researchers have proposed several mechanisms for the LSWI/EWI process in the literature; however, there is no consensus on a single main mechanism for the low salinity effect on oil recovery. Because of the latter, there are few models for LSWI/EWI and especially for carbonates due to their heterogeneity and complexity. In this paper, we present a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on low salinity/engineered water injection for both sandstones and carbonates. This review includes descriptions of underlying mechanisms, spontaneous imbibition and coreflood laboratory work, field-scale pilots, numerical and modeling work, implementation, comparison between sandstones and carbonates, other LSWI/EWI applications, and desalination methods. List of recommendations and conclusions are provided based on this vast literature review and our experiences. This paper can be used as a guide for starting or implementing laboratory- and field-scale projects on low salinity/engineered water injections.
AB - The low salinity/engineered water injection techniques (LSWI/EWI) have become one of the most important research topics in the oil industry because of their possible advantages for improving oil recovery compared to conventional seawater injection. Researchers have proposed several mechanisms for the LSWI/EWI process in the literature; however, there is no consensus on a single main mechanism for the low salinity effect on oil recovery. Because of the latter, there are few models for LSWI/EWI and especially for carbonates due to their heterogeneity and complexity. In this paper, we present a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on low salinity/engineered water injection for both sandstones and carbonates. This review includes descriptions of underlying mechanisms, spontaneous imbibition and coreflood laboratory work, field-scale pilots, numerical and modeling work, implementation, comparison between sandstones and carbonates, other LSWI/EWI applications, and desalination methods. List of recommendations and conclusions are provided based on this vast literature review and our experiences. This paper can be used as a guide for starting or implementing laboratory- and field-scale projects on low salinity/engineered water injections.
KW - Applications of LSWI/EWI
KW - Comprehensive review on LSWI/EWI
KW - Effects of LSWI/EWI in sandstones and carbonates
KW - Engineered water injection (EWI)
KW - Low salinity water injection (LSWI)
KW - Synergistic effects of LSWI/EWI
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84952674132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.petrol.2015.11.027
DO - 10.1016/j.petrol.2015.11.027
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84952674132
SN - 0920-4105
VL - 139
SP - 137
EP - 161
JO - Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
JF - Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
ER -