Pore-scale analysis and visualization of tertiary cationic surfactant flooding in a complex carbonate
Author(s)
AlZahrani, Hussain M
Bijeljic, Branko
Chai, Rukuan
Blunt, Martin J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We investigate the pore-scale mechanisms of displacement using cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) flooding as a tertiary enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique in a complex carbonate rock using high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). A carbonate sample was initially altered to be oil-wet through contact with crude oil, followed by sequential brine and surfactant injection to evaluate the impact on oil displacement and investigate oil recovery mechanisms. We used a concentration of DTAB above the critical micelle concentration, CMC, with no cosolvent. Image-based pore-scale analysis of fluid occupancy, wettability alteration, contact angles, interfacial areas, capillary pressure, and fluid connectivity was performed. The contact angles, mean curvatures, and capillary pressures indicated a transition from oil-wet to a mixed-wet state when we switch from brine to surfactant injection. The results indicate that DTAB flooding reduced interfacial tension and altered wettability, leading to increased oil recovery, particularly from small pores and throats, where brine flooding was ineffective. The results were compared to those of a previous study of secondary DTAB flooding. We hypothesize that wettability alteration was caused by competitive adsorption and hydrophobic interactions, promoting oil detachment from the rock surface. This study demonstrates that DTAB can enhance oil recovery in carbonate formations without requiring ultralow interfacial tension, making it a cost-effective alternative for complex reservoirs.
Date Issued
2025-11-04
Date Acceptance
2025-10-13
Citation
ACS Omega, 2025, 10 (43)
ISSN
2470-1343
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Start Page
51383
End Page
51395
Journal / Book Title
ACS Omega
Volume
10
Issue
43
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under CC-BY 4.0 .
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41210745
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2025-10-23