Geochemical interpretation of low salinity water injection in carbonate oil reservoirs

Emad W. Al-Shalabi, Kamy Sepehrnoori, Gary Pope

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    31 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The advantages of using the low salinity water injection (LSWI) technique to improve oil recovery in carbonates have been reported in the literature; however, the mechanism behind it is still uncertain. In this paper, a geochemical/thermodynamic interpretation of the mechanism controlling oil recovery in carbonates by LSWI is proposed based on a recently published experimental study. The geochemical modeling was performed using two geochemical simulators (UTCHEM and PHREEQC). For the carbonate case considered in this paper, it was found that the wettability alteration was caused mainly by changing the surface charge of the rock rather than by dissolution. The findings cannot be generalized as the LSWI technique is case dependent.

    Original languageBritish English
    Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 19th SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, IOR 2014
    PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
    Pages998-1020
    Number of pages23
    ISBN (Print)9781632663863
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2014
    Event19th SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, IOR 2014 - Tulsa, OK, United States
    Duration: 12 Apr 201416 Apr 2014

    Publication series

    NameProceedings - SPE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery
    Volume2

    Conference

    Conference19th SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, IOR 2014
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityTulsa, OK
    Period12/04/1416/04/14

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