Effect of IOR/EOR Chemicals on Interfacial Rheological Properties of Crude Oil/Water Systems (2001)

Effect of IOR/EOR Chemicals on Interfacial Rheological Properties of Crude Oil/Water Systems I. Lakatos; I. Lakatos University of Miskolc, Hungary Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar J. Lakatos-Szabo J. Lakatos-Szabo University of Miskolc, Hungary Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, Houston, Texas, February 2001. Paper Number: SPE-65391-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/65391-MS Published: February 13 2001 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Lakatos, I., and J. Lakatos-Szabo. "Effect of IOR/EOR Chemicals on Interfacial Rheological Properties of Crude Oil/Water Systems." Paper presented at the SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, Houston, Texas, February 2001. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/65391-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry Search Advanced Search AbstractInterfacial rheological properties of different Hungarian crude oil/water systems were determined in wide temperature and shear rate range and in the presence of inorganic electrolytes, water-soluble polymers, non-ionic tensides and alkaline materials. The detailed laboratory study definitely proved that the interfacial rheological properties are extremely sensitive parameters towards the chemical composition of immiscible formation liquids. Therefore, comparison and interpretation of the interfacial rheological properties may contribute significantly to extension of the weaponry of the reservoir characterization, better understanding of displacement mechanism, development of more profitable EOR/IOR methods, intensification of surface technologies, optimization of pipe line transportation and improvement of refinery operations. It was evidenced that the interfacial rheology is an efficient and powerful detection and differentiation technique, which may enhance our knowledge on formation, structure, properties and behavior of interfacial layers. Thus, it will probably accelerate significantly the progress not only in oil recovery but also in all areas of colloid science and technology.IntroductionAlthough the effect of interfacial tension (IFT) and wettability on efficiency of oil recovery and surface technologies was recognized many decades ago and formation of rigid films at water/oil interfaces was also firmly proved, the role of interfacial rheology in relevant technologies has been practically neglected until now. Recently, however, an extensive research activity connected with the enhanced oil recovery and the surface operation at oilfields laid repeatedly stress upon interfacial phenomena including the interfacial viscosity (IFV), in general interfacial rheological behavior of oil/water systems. Therefore, the main objectives of the research program were to demonstrate that the interfacial rheological properties (viscosity, non-Newtonian flow behavior, constants of the Ostwald's formula and the power law, temperature dependence of viscosity, activation energy of the viscous flow, etc.) are sensitive parameters for characterization and identification of natural crude oil/water systems and they provide valuable information for both the exploration and the production activities.Historical BackgroundIn hydrocarbon reservoirs the interfacial phenomena may play a fundamental role in the displacement processes and phase-exchange mechanism. The secondary and tertiary recovery processes, particularly the chemical floodings, are based on changing of just these interfacial properties in a favorable direction, but it is beyond doubt that the interfacial tension of the oil/water system and the wetting conditions of the rock are key issues also in conventional reservoir engineering operations. It is curious, however, that the interfacial properties of the system, rather complicated from physicochemical aspects, only these two factors are taken into account. Actually, a fundamental circumstance is usually neglected, viz. in the formation of an interface not only composition and energy differences are produced between the boundary region and the bulk phases, but the bulk phases and their interface are different also from rheological point of view. On the basis of the data listed in Table 1. it seems to be a reservoir engineering nonsense that the interfacial viscosity is absolutely neglected as part of the capillary phenomena. Despite the fact that the interfacial viscosity may change within extremely wide limits that statement is even more obvious considering that there is no close correlation between the interfacial tension and the interfacial viscosity. Keywords: lakato, activation energy, chemical flooding methods, shear rate, alkaline material, interfacial property, enhanced recovery, water system, oil water system, dependence Subjects: Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Chemical flooding methods This content is only available via PDF. 2001. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.