| In this work, we aim at linking brine-crude oil interactions, and rock-fluid interactions in oil reservoirs. It is often claimed that either interactions is the dominant factor causing increased oil recovery while adjusting the brine chemistry and adjusting the salinity of the injected brine.;Using contact angle measurements, zeta potential, and spontaneous imbibition the rock-fluid properties were evaluated. Low-salinity brine was found to alter the wettability of strong oil-wet sandstone surfaces to intermediate oil wet. Oil wetted quartz substrates showed no response when the exposed to low-salinity brine. Modifying the brine chemistry using sulfate ions and calcium ions result in a slight reduction of the contact angle without altering the wettability. Measurement of interfacial rheology using pendant drop, drop size distribution and spinning drop showed that brine could govern less snap-off and more coalescence of oil droplets to form oil banks. Interfacial findings presented a more satisfactory explanation of the recovery trends observed. |
