The spontaneous imbibition mechanisms for enhanced oil recovery by gel breaking fluid of clean fracturing fluid

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2022-10, Vol.650, p.129568, Article 129568
• Main Authors: Zhao, Mingwei, Liu, Shichun, Gao, Zhibin, Wu, Yining, Dai, Caili
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Enhanced oil recovery; Gel breaking fluid; HNMR; Spontaneous imbibition; Synergistic mechanism
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129568

The quick flowback treatment after conventional fracturing construction can waste a lot of energy from fracturing fluid. Meanwhile, spontaneous imbibition has great application potential for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In this work, based on pre-developed silica nanoparticle-reinforced CO2-sensitive fracturing fluid system, the imbibition factors of the gel breaking fluid were studied. In addition, the HNMR technology, AFM, contact angle test, and interfacial tension (IFT) test were used to explore the mechanism of spontaneous imbibition. The results show that imbibition mainly occurs in the small pores, and the adsorption of components can reduce roughness and flow resistance. Meanwhile, the adsorption layer was formed by surfactants and nanoparticles, changing wettability from oil-wet to water-wet, reducing the IFT between oil and water. The synergistic effect of multi-component improves the imbibition effect. We expect that this study can broaden the application of multi-component gel breaking fluid in low permeability reservoirs. [Display omitted] •The imbibition mainly occurs in small pores at high temperature.•The adsorption of gel breaking fluid reduces the roughness of rock surface and the flow resistance in the channel.•The composite adsorption layer can effectively improve the wettability of core surface.•Silica nanoparticles and surfactants produce a synergistic effect in imbibition process.