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Pore-scale Imaging and Characterization of Hydrocarbon Reservoir Rock Wettability at Subsurface Conditions Using X-ray Microtomography
Published on: October 21, 2018
Investigating wettability alteration during MEOR process, a micro/macro scale analysis
Mahvash Karimi1, Maziyar Mahmoodi, Ali Niazi
1School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) uses bacteria to alter rock wettability, improving oil flow. Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation are key mechanisms for this wettability change, enhancing oil recovery.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Microbiology
- Surface Science
Background:
- Wettability alteration is crucial for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in microbial EOR (MEOR) processes.
- Understanding bacterial mechanisms of wettability change is vital for optimizing oil recovery.
- Current knowledge on wettability alteration mechanisms by microbes is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate wettability alteration at the pore scale.
- Identify the most effective mechanisms of wettability changes by bacteria under various conditions.
- Correlate macroscopic wettability changes with microscopic surface alterations.
Main Methods:
- Experiments conducted on different substrates under fresh and crude oil-aged conditions.
- Utilized Enterobacter cloacae strain to assess wettability changes.
- Employed contact angle measurements for macroscopic quantification and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for microscopic surface analysis.
Main Results:
- Bacterial activity shifted surface wettability from neutral/oil-wet to water-wet states.
- Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation identified as dominant wettability alteration mechanisms.
- Bacteria removed polar and asphaltene compounds from aged glass surfaces, restoring water wetness.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation are primary drivers of wettability alteration in MEOR.
- MEOR can effectively restore water-wetness to aged reservoir surfaces by removing inhibiting compounds.
- This study provides insights into optimizing MEOR strategies for increased oil recovery.
