Pore-scale visual investigation on the spontaneous imbibition of surfactant solution in oil-wet capillary tubes

ABSTRACT

Surfactant assisted spontaneous imbibition is a feasible method for enhanced oil recovery in the reservoirs. A series of pore-scale visual spontaneous imbibition experiments of surfactant solution in oil-wet capillary tubes with six different diameters (10 μm~60 μm) are thoroughly investigated. The results showed that the final imbibition recovery exhibited a rise and fall tendency in sequence with the increase of capillary tube diameter. The combination of the Marangoni effect and diffusion effect was the dominant power to render the oil be expelled, and the wettability alteration was principally conducive to the migration of expulsion oil. Additionally, emulsification entrainment was beneficial to imbibition recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Surfactant solution
• spontaneous imbibition
• visual
• emulsification
• capillary tube

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support given by the National Major Science and Technology Projects of China (No. 2017ZX05069-003).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Major Science and Technology Projects of China [2017ZX05069-003].

Notes on contributors

Bingbing Li

Bingbing Li male, born in 1988, PhD candidate, mainly engaged in tertiary oil recovery technology.

Weiyao Zhu

Weiyao Zhu male, born in 1960, professor, mainly engaged in the development of oil and gas field.

Qipeng Ma

Qipeng Ma male, born in 1993, PhD candidate, mainly engaged in tertiary oil recovery technology.

Hua Li

Hua Li female, born in 1991, PhD candidate, mainly engaged in microbial oil recovery technology.

Debin Kong

Debin Kong male, born in 1989, lecturer, mainly engaged in tertiary oil recovery technology.

Zhiyong Song

Zhiyong Song male, born in 1979, professor, mainly engaged in tertiary oil recovery technology.