Article
Energy & Fuels
Guangfeng Liu, Fan Jiang, Lizhen Ge, Qingjiu Zhang, Xiaoming Chen, Zhaoqi Fan, Juntao Wang
Summary: Low salinity water flooding (LSW) is a low-cost and accessible method for enhanced oil recovery in conventional reservoirs. However, its application in tight sandstone reservoirs is still unknown due to low porosity and permeability. This study investigates the effect of ionic composition and salinity on the performance of LSW in a tight oil formation through laboratory experiments.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Md Motiur Rahman, Mohammed Haroun, Mohammed Al Kobaisi, Minkyun Kim, Abhijith Suboyin, Bharat Somra, Jassim Abubacker Ponnambathayil, Soham Punjabi
Summary: The use of nanoparticles as a method for enhancing oil recoveries has shown promising results in improving recoveries through wettability alteration and interfacial tension reduction. This study focuses on the potential of nanoparticles in coreflood experiments, where low concentration acid is added to disperse the nanoparticles and enhance stimulation of tight porous media. Electrokinetics is also implemented to increase fluid mobility and penetration within the porous media. The findings reveal a close connection between wettability alteration and electrokinetic application. The hybrid technique of using nano-acid fluid yields a higher oil recovery rate compared to using smart brine alone, with a 10-15% increase.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Taniya Kar, Hyeyoung Cho, Abbas Firoozabadi
Summary: This study discusses the mechanisms of low salinity waterflooding and finds that oil recovery is higher from high salinity water injection than from low salinity water injection. There is a strong relationship between interface elasticity and oil recovery, while no definitive correlation is found between oil recovery and wettability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ahmed G. Almetwally, Hadi Jabbari
Summary: By utilizing 3D printed rock samples in experiments, the study reduced geometric uncertainties and accurately described pore network structures. This method showed potential in research on oil recovery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Sumeet K. Sinha, Katerina Ziotopoulou, Bruce L. Kutter
Summary: In this study, a new numerical model was developed to address the design and evaluation of axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils. The model takes into account both the drag load and settlement induced by liquefaction, and it was validated against experimental data. Sensitivity analysis on material properties was also conducted, revealing some influence on the model results.
JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Chedid Saade, Zheng Li, Sandra Escoffier, Luc Thorel
Summary: Centrifuge and numerical modeling were used to study a homogeneous embankment built on a liquefiable sand ground. The centrifuge model showed the excess pore pressure, acceleration response, settlement, and deformation pattern of the embankment. A numerical simulation using the advanced constitutive model PM4Sand was conducted and compared to the results of the centrifuge test. The numerical model aligned well with the test, and improved boundaries and potential boundary effects were discussed.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ahmed M. Selem, Nicolas Agenet, Martin J. Blunt, Branko Bijeljic
Summary: In this study, the underlying pore-scale mechanisms of the low salinity waterflooding process were investigated to understand its impact on oil recovery. The experiments revealed that the injection of low salinity brine improved the wettability of the reservoir rock, leading to the formation of water micro-droplets within the oil phase and detachment of oil layers from the rock surface.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Gideon Dordzie, Morteza Dejam
Summary: Recent research has focused on the use of low salinity water, nanoparticles, and surfactants as enhanced oil recovery agents in fractured carbonate reservoirs, showing successful application in carbonates due to their environmental friendliness and low cost. However, there is relatively limited investigation into the effectiveness of these methods in the presence of fractures.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Rui Zhao, Anthony Kwan Leung, Jonathan Knappett, Scott Robinson, Andrew Brennan
Summary: Centrifuge modeling is effective for studying flexural soil-pile interaction, but conventional elastic material modeling cannot replicate important nonlinear behavior. This study presents a small-scale model RC pile for testing soil-structure interaction under lateral pile head loading in sand, along with nonlinear finite-element numerical modeling. The physical model can reproduce pile failure mechanisms and exhibit hardening responses under flexural loading.
JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Charles W. W. Ng, Petrus A. A. Crous, Schalk W. W. Jacobsz
Summary: Tailings dams have high failure rates globally, leading to significant loss of life and environmental damage. Two centrifuge model tests and numerical analysis were conducted to understand the triggering factors and failure mechanisms. One mechanism involved sloughing at the toe due to large seepage forces, causing localized liquefaction and retrogressive flowslide failure. The other mechanism was drained instability of the slope, resulting in a slide-to-flow failure. The study highlights the importance of understanding the failure mechanisms to prevent tailings dam failures.
JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maryam Ghorbani, Fariborz Rashidi, Ali Mousavi Dehghani
Summary: Experimental measurements of zeta potential are not recommended for hydrocarbon reservoirs due to their instability at high temperatures (>80 degrees c). This study presents a theoretical approach using a numerical model to calculate wettability alteration during low salinity water injection. The model considers equilibrations and interfaces charge alteration, and is validated using literature data.
PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Evans Anto-Darkwah, Takeshi Kurotori, Ronny Pini, Avinoam Rabinovich
Summary: Characterizing subsurface reservoirs is crucial for environmental engineering technologies. This study presents a method to accurately model coreflooding experiments by estimating the permeability distribution and relative permeability of core samples, considering varying flow rates. The method improves previous approaches by achieving mm-scale accuracy. The application of the method to limestone core samples demonstrates its effectiveness in estimating saturation distribution and core pressure drop.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Aliasger Essakali Haiderali, Masanari Nakashima, Gopal S. P. Madabhushi, Ben Hong Lau, Stuart K. Haigh
Summary: This paper investigates the load-deformation behavior of extra-large and extra-extra-large monopiles in low-shear strength overconsolidated kaolin clay subjected to monotonic lateral loading. The results show the detailed discussion on the behavior of XL/XXL monopiles, including mode of deformation, lateral capacity, deflection, rotational stiffness, bending moment and shear force, and soil response. The study also highlights the inaccuracy of the p-y method in designing monopiles in this size range.
JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Soumitra B. Nande, Samarth D. Patwardhan
Summary: Low salinity waterflooding has become an important method for additional oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs in recent years. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. This paper provides a detailed review and analysis of research on low salinity waterflooding in carbonates, and offers a roadmap for future research in the field.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Isong Otu Egbe, Ashkan Jahanbani Ghahfarokhi, Menad Nait Amar, Ole Torsaeter
Summary: Low-salinity waterflooding (LSWF) has been studied for its impact on ion exchange and wettability alteration in carbonate cores to improve oil recovery. The results show wettability alteration is crucial for the increased oil recovery during LSWF, with sensitivity analysis on key parameters performed for process optimization.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)