Abstract
Improved oil recovery from asphaltenic oil reservoirs may provide the world with a significant source of lower-cost energy over many decades. However, the mechanisms through which the surface-active components in crude oil, such as asphaltenes and organic acids, affect incremental oil production are still unclear.
In this study, we investigate crude oil/water interfacial films using shear and dilational rheology for mechanical properties and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to better understand its molecular species present at the interface that contribute to the development of viscoelastic behaviors. Dilational rheology has proven to be more sensitive to early time development of elasticity. In contrast, shear rheology provided more insights regarding the formation of elastic films at the macroscopic scale and late time interfacial changes. The presence of salts such as sodium chloride in the aqueous phase played a critical role in altering the dynamics of both the rheological properties development and the interfacial tension.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition |
| Publisher | Society of Petroleum Engineers |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 14 2020 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-11-06Acknowledgements: The research reported in this publication has been supported by KAUST through baseline research funding to Prof. Patzek, and by Harvard University through the Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group. Crude oil samples and FTIR analysis were provided by Schlumberger-Doll Research.