The role of polar organic components in dynamic crude oil adsorption on sandstones and carbonates

Crude oil injection shifts sandstone and carbonate cores to a mix-wet state, reducing capillary forces and moving them away from water-wet conditions. This effect is more pronounced with acidic polar components on carbonates than on sandstones, where basic polar components play a greater role in wettability changes. The study used outcrop materials—sandstone containing quartz, illite clay, and feldspars, and high-purity calcium carbonate from Stevns Klint—to analyze dynamic adsorption of low-asphaltene crude oils at 50°C. By measuring acid (AN) and base numbers (BN), researchers found that polar organic components (POCs) significantly influence reservoir wettability, offering insights to optimize waterflooding operations for enhanced oil recovery.

Piñerez Torrijos, I. D., Mamonov, A., Strand, S., & Puntervold, T. (2020). The role of polar organic components in dynamic crude oil adsorption on sandstones and carbonates. CT&F - Ciencia, Tecnología Y Futuro, 10(2), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.29047/01225383.251