University of Alberta · Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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![Contact Angle Meter](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/Contact_Angle_Meter.jpg)
Methodology
University of Alberta scientists polished the end pieces of Montney Formation core plugs to get smooth surfaces for measuring liquid-liquid contact angle (CA) on oil-saturated end pieces by using a high-resolution camera. For CA measurement a contact angle goniometer was used. The oil-saturated end piece is placed into a glass cell which is filled with the fluid sample, then an oil droplet is dropped by a J-shape syringe needle on the rock surface.
Results
Table 2 lists the measured contact angles of an oil droplet on the surface of oil-saturated end pieces which were immersed into different aqueous fluids. From Table 2, the oil droplet CA ranges between 94° and 108° in fresh water, which indicates that the oil-saturated rock is initially oil-wet in reservoir brine.
For fresh water with different concentrations of nanoActiv® HRT and nanoActiv® EFT, the oil droplet CA is very low, indicating that the oil-saturated rock surface is highly water-wet after exposure to the nanoparticles.
Table 1
Oil Properties | Quantity |
---|---|
Relative density (g/cc) | 0.74 |
Absolute density (kg/m3) | 738.0 |
API Gravity | 46.8 |
Surface tension (mN/m) | 25.5 |
Viscosity (cP) | 3.56 |
Total sulphur (mass percent) ASTM D4294 | 0.107 |
Summary
Wettability affects relative permeability, electrical properties, nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times, and saturation profiles in the reservoir. The wetting state impacts waterflooding and aquifer encroachment into a reservoir.
Based on the CA measurement results, it is clear nanoActiv® HRT and nanoActiv® EFT change the wettability of oil-saturated rock surface making it more water-wet. Treatments that change the wettability of the formation from oil-wet to water-wet can significantly enhance productivity.
Table 2
Aqueous Fluids | Contact angle of oil droplet on oil-saturated rock surface | |
---|---|---|
T=1 min | T=600 min* | |
Fresh Water | 94° | 108° |
Fresh water with HRT (5 Wt%) | 30° | 17° |
Fresh water with HRT (10 Wt%) | 32° | 43° |
Fresh water with EFT (0.5 GPT) | 55° | 47° |
Fresh water with EFT (1 GPT) | 44° | 34° |
*Fresh water contact angle was measured at 60 minutes.
Table 3
Aqueous Fluids | Interfacial Tension (mN/m) |
---|---|
Fresh Water | 1.842 |
with HRT (5 Wt%) | 0.447 |
with HRT (10 Wt%) | 0.373 |
with EFT (0.5 GPT) | 0.186 |
with EFT (1 GPT) | 0.211 |
The interfacial tension between oil and different aqueous fluids were also measured by a spinning drop tensiometer.
![Imbibition Oil Recovery Graph](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/NCA_Imbibition_Oil_Recovery_Graph.jpg)
Oil recovery factor vs. time for twin core plugs immersed in brine and nanoActiv® solution. Adding nanoActiv® in water significantly increases oil recovery rate and the final recovery factor.
![Fresh Water](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/UofA-Table_Graphic-01.jpg)
![Fresh Water with HRT (5 Wt%)](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/UofA-Table_Graphic-02.jpg)
![Fresh Water with HRT (10 Wt%)](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/UofA-Table_Graphic-03.jpg)
![Fresh Water with EFT (0.5 GPT)](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/UofA-Table_Graphic-04.jpg)
![Fresh Water with EFT (1 GPT)](http://nanoactiv.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/UofA-Table_Graphic-05.jpg)
nanoActiv® is made in the USA · Patented in the US and other countries