Effect of Microcellulose on Wettability of Reservoir Rock Surface Model

Abstract

Wettability is one factor that influences the enhanced oil recovery. Water-wet surfaces are predicted increasing the oil recovery from the reservoir. Microcellulose has the potential to produce water-wet surfaces. In this experiment, two types of microcellulose were used with different particle sizes of 2.9 μm and 14 μm. Both types of microcellulose are then applied to the reservoir rock surface model, i.e the surface of bentonite which has been soaked in crude oil for one week at 60 °C. Contact angle measurement shows that there is a decrease in water-the reservoir rock surface model contact angle from ~ 90 ° to ~ 80 ° when applied microcellulose solution 0.5% w/w. The difference in microcellulose size causes a difference in contact angle of about 5° at microcellulose solution 2.5%. This shows the application of microcellulose on the reservoir rock surface model causing the surface to be more water-wet.