Wettability Alteration Mechanisms in Enhanced Oil Recovery with Surfactants and Nanofluids: A Review with Microfluidic Applications

Abstract

Modifying reservoir surface wetting properties is an appealing topic to the upstream oil and gas industry for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery as the shifting of reservoir rock surface wetting from oil-wet to water-wet has enhanced the oil recovery by as much as 70–80%. In the last few decades, research has been conducted on core flooding experiments to reveal wettability alteration mechanisms associated with macroscopic fluid flow in reservoirs. In recent years, the microscopic wetting state and fluid distribution behavior have been studied using micromodel experimental techniques to promote the fundamental mechanisms of wettability alteration. To provide the concurrent knowledge and technology development, this comprehensive review focuses on micromodel investigations for wettability alteration in chemical-enhanced oil recovery using surfactants and/or nanofluids that reveal microscopic behaviors on the wetting state, fluid distribution, and their associated mechanisms. This comprehensive review focuses on micromodel investigations for wettability alteration in chemical-enhanced oil recovery using surfactants and/or nanofluids that reveal microscopic behaviors on the wetting state, fluid distribution, and their associated mechanisms. Wettability characteristics and measurement techniques are thoroughly assessed to understand the critical role of wettability for enhanced oil recovery. With the microfluidic-based studies, the effect of relative permeability along with the pore network and wetting order on oil recovery have been discussed. Later on, the new development in phase diagram related to viscus fingering and capillary fingering regime have been reviewed via various micromodels. Then, the wettability alteration mechanisms and governing parameters by surfactant and nanoparticles are summarized. Additionally, recent micromodel experiments on surfactants and nanofluid-assisted enhanced oil recovery are reviewed and listed, along with their fabrication methods.

Effect of Anionic Surfactants on the Oil–Water–Rock Interactions by an Improved Washburn Method

“…As is known, wettability controls the distribution of fluids in porous media and thus affects the multiphase flow during enhanced oil recovery. For the enhancement of crude oil recovery, most studies have been conducted to change the surface wettability of subsurface oil reservoir rocks by injecting specific types of surfactants [ 19 , 20 ]. However, most of the experimental studies investigate the surface wettability of particles from a macroscopic point of view, while there are fewer studies on the interaction of surfactants with subsurface oil reservoir rocks from a microscopic point of view.…”