METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR LOW SALINITY ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

• Main Authors: TESSAROLO, Nathalia, COUVES, John, William, WICKING, Christianne, Clare, ZENG, Huang, COLLINS, Ian, Ralph
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 11.10.2023
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS; ELECTRICITY; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PHYSICS; TESTING

A method of assessing the response of a reservoir rock to low salinity water includes obtaining a formation core sample of a reservoir rock from a reservoir. In addition, the method includes sequentially washing the formation core sample with a first series of solvents to form a first series of solvent extracts and an extracted formation core sample. Further, the method includes sequentially washing the extracted formation core sample with a second series of solvents to form a second series of solvent extracts and a cleaned formation core sample. The method also includes generating a series of mass spectra of the second series of solvent extracts. The relative abundance of the catecholamine-type structures (CTS) is determined using the series of mass spectra. Still further, the method includes subjecting the formation core sample to analysis by X-ray diffraction to generate a diffraction pattern. The relative abundance of kalonite is determined using the diffraction pattern. Moreover, the method includes assessing a response of the reservoir rock to low salinity water based on the percentage of kalonite and the relative abundance of CTS.