Geochemical Modelling to Characterize Wettability of Oil-Brine-Rock Systems

Abstract

Low salinity waterflooding appears to be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means to improve oil recovery by increasing hydrophilicity. However, the controlling factor(s) behind this process remains unclear. This research characterized wettability of oil-brine-rock system from nano to pore scale through a combination of experiments and geochemical modelling, providing insights to better model multiphase flow at subsurface. New findings can also help to constrain the intrinsic uncertainties of CO2-assisted EOR with respect to wettability alteration.