Fine migration investigation in reservoirs

Fines migration is defined as separation of a Nano-sized particle by fluid flow in porous media and its migration along some distances and its entrapment in a narrow pore throat or its settlement on pore wall. Although this phenomenon happens in scales of Micro-meters, but it can lead to severe irretrievable damages. This damage leads to permeability reduction that causes drastic oil recovery reduction.There are several forces impacting a fine on a pore wall. Some of the most important forces affecting settlement of a fine in porous media in presence of a fluid are electrical forces. Electrical forces consist of several long and short range forces. This study focuses on a long range force called DoubleLayer Force (DLF) that beside Van der Waals is one of most powerful electrical forces. DLF depends on the solid material (reservoir rock and fine) and fluid properties (i.e. ionic strength, pH). This study investigates how each of these parameters affect DLF and how this force actsduring fluid flow in porous media to affect fines migration. This work introduces how to evaluate critical parameters for reservoir water flooding for controlling fines migration and minimizing damages.

Keywords:

Reservoir Damage , Fines Migration , Interparticle Forces , Double Layer Force , waterflooding , Salinity