Effects of Fluid Aging and Reservoir Temperature on Waterflooding in 2.5D Glass Micromodels

To study improved oil recovery (IOR) via laboratory experiments at the pore scale, we performed waterflooding in a glass 2.5D micromodel (dual depth: 12 and 27 μm) with crude (CRO) brines of variable compositions temperatures ranging from 22 °C (room temperature) to 90 °C. The time-dependent residual saturation (ROS) for various flooding aging protocols was extracted optical microscopy images entire space micromodel. Additionally, used high-resolution examine microscopic distributions brine subpore level. Variation fluid history (before first high-salinity water, HSW) revealed that sequential formation water CRO led significantly higher ROS values than only. Video analysis showed most trapped complete bypassing deep pores. On increasing temperature, both fraction bypassed pores became smaller. An increase dewetting tiny drops films walls supports notion decrease wettability alteration. Subsequent low-salinity (LSW) did not lead additional oil, regardless condition or temperature. Our results show significance temperature design successful microfluidic IOR strategy.