Wettability Modification of Oil-Wet Rock – Modelling and Experiments

B19 Wettability Modification of Oil-Wet Rock – Modelling and Experiments W.M. Stoll* (Shell International EP B.V.) J.P. Hofman (Shell International EP B.V.) D.J. Ligthelm (Shell International EP B.V.) & M.J. Faber (Shell International EP B.V.) SUMMARY An oil-saturated oil-wet rock does not naturally imbibe brine. In order to release its oil in place an external viscous pressure gradient must be applied that overcomes the capillary pressure. If however the rock is pervasively fractured such a pressure gradient cannot be established and the oil remains inaccessible to traditional IOR techniques. Recently a new concept termed “wettability modification” of oil-wet reservoirs has