A new approach for determination of carbonate rock electrostatic double layer variation towards wettability alteration

摘要

Focus on the molecular scale of low salinity brine effects seems to be necessary to clarify the possible mechanisms of carbonate rock wettability alteration. This study aimed at investigating the effects of different operational parameters such as pH, salinity and types of ions on wettability alteration (WA) during low salinity brine injection as a tertiary recovery process. In the present study, using the electrostatic double-layer concept and molecular behavior, along with a good view of the past studies, led to the justification of the obtained results. The studied reservoir is one of the Middle East carbonate reservoirs which is considered for low salinity brine injection plan. Although the concept of potential is ill-defined in electrostatic or/and electrokinetic topics, nonetheless, to the extent possible, has been tried to use this concept to illustrate and justify underlying mechanism during low salinity process beneficially.