Changing interfacial tension and wettability using new generation chemicals and nano metal particles at elevated temperatures and pressures: An analysis through a new experimental design for heavy-oil recovery applications

Abstract

Capillary imbibition tests, contact angle and interfacial tension measurements were combined to understand the mechanism of alteration surface interplay (wettability and interfacial tension) amongst heavy crude oil, rock (sandstone and carbonate) surfaces, and seven different chemical agents at elevated temperatures and pressures. The results showed that the ionic liquid is thermally stable and has the ability to decrease contact angle in both limestone and sandstone samples indicating heavy-oil recovery increase potential during thermal methods. ${\text{NaBO}}_2$ is also thermally stable and can reduce the interfacial tension at high temperature and high-pressure conditions but showed relatively insignificant effect on the recovery factor in the limestone due to limited wettability alteration capability at higher temperatures. ${\text{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ nanoparticles did not increase thermal recovery in limestones but showed a good performance increase in sandstones. $\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ was observed to be another good candidate for thermal application in sandstones because of its capability to improve wettability.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• New generation chemicals
• steam conditions
• alteration of interfacial properties
• wettability alteration for carbonates and sandstones
• new device for capillary imbibition measurement

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the the second author’s (TB) NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Unconventional Oil Recovery (industrial partners are Petroleum Development Oman, Total E&P Recherche Developpement, SiGNa Oilfield Canada, CNRL, SUNCOR, Touchstone Exploration, Sherritt Oil, PEMEX, Husky Energy, Devon, BASF, Saudi Aramco, and APEX Eng.). and an NSERC Discovery Grant (No: RES0011227). We gratefully acknowledge these supports. This paper is an improved version of the paper (SPE 184975) presented at the SPE Canada Heavy Oil Technical Conference held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 15–16 February, 2017. Also, this paper was derived from the unpublished MSc thesis of the first author.