Effect of Salinity and Brine ionis Composition on Wettability Essay

Effect of Salinity and Brine ionis Composition on Wettability Alteration - Essay Example Disturbance of the equilibrium by injection of low salinity water results into formation of new equilibrium between the different phases. Such formation establishes increase in oil recovery process especially during production and alteration to favorable wettability. Activation energy remains imperative in the wettability alteration process especially in controlling chemical reaction rate that exists between injected water and the mineral surface. During period of water injection, there would be absence of oil recovery and wettability improvement if there is slow rate of reaction. It is indispensable to note that inherent reactivity of ions within the injected water and strength of bonding existing between mineral surface and polar oil components defines the needed activation energy mainly for wettability modification. According to Doust et al. (2009), there exist difference in chemical bonding between negative polar components of crude oil (carboxylic material) and negatively charged sandstone rocks and the carbonate rocks that have positive charges. The inherent aforementioned charges remains imperative in promoting difference observed in wettability alteration mechanism. Consequently, there exist possibility of removing organic material from carbonate rock mainly at high temperatures through surface reactivity increment of potential determining ions including Mg2+, SO42-, and Ca2+. Moreover, within sandstone rocks, there exists essentiality of organic material adsorption mainly for low salinity water effect. At higher temperatures, organic material desorption is essential in achieving a low salinity water injection more pronounced effect on carbonate rocks. Essentially, there exists impossibility in realizing reliable chemical reaction model that demonstrates multi-ion exchange (MIE) mechanism within sandstone. During decreasing salinity, adsorbed ions net desorption