Mechanistic Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Low Salinity Waterflooding

TL;DRAbstract

Low Salinity Waterflooding (LSW) is an emerging attractive enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method because of its oil recovery performance and relatively simple, environmentally friendly implementation, when compared with conventional high salinity waterflooding and EOR approaches. Most studies on the subject have focused on the experimental and theoretical work, with varying, sometimes contradictory conclusions. This dissertation presents a systematic study of the LSW process and its potential for improved oil recovery. The starting point for this research is an investigation of the underlying mechanisms of LSW by reviewing and analyzing the broad range of results that have been published over the past twenty years. Wettability alteration, leading to increased water wetness due to ion exchange and geochemical reactions, has been found to be the primary LSW mechanism. Based on the above findings, this thesis introduces one of the first mechanistic LSW models that can be used to design LSW p

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