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Journal V.25.No.4.2023
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Potential for improving the efficiency of carbonate oil deposits waterflooding with the use of controlled salinity technology (Smart water) at fields of Tatarstan Republic

Z.R. Saptarova, A.A. Mamonov, S.A. Usmanov, A.A. Lutfullin, V.A. Sudakov, M.S. Shipaeva, A.A. Shakirov, S.A. Sitnov, V.A. Derevyanko

Review article

DOI https://doi.org/10.18599/grs.2023.4.6

92-105
rus.

open access

Under a Creative Commons license

The article provides an overview of ion-modified waterflooding technology, also known as low salinity, controlled salinity, or Smart water. This technology is currently considered one of the most promising approaches in the development of oil deposits in carbonate reservoirs due to its economic efficiency and environmental safety. The article discusses the main mechanisms and processes underlying ion-modified waterflooding and presents the results of laboratory studies conducted on core samples from foreign oil deposits. It includes an analysis of several studies, including contact angle measurements and core flooding experiments on core samples from oil deposits in carbonate reservoirs on the eastern side of the Melekess depression in the Republic of Tatarstan. It is important to note that the Vereyian deposits explored in this article are not a typical example of test objects for ion-modified water injection. This is because they are characterized by a low reservoir temperature of 23 °C, which suggests that the efficiency of the technology would likely be lower compared to studies conducted abroad, where reservoir temperatures were significantly higher. For example, Darvish Sarvestani et al. studied reservoir conditions at 90 °C, Yousef et al. – reservoir temperature of 100 °C, and Austad et al. examined the Ekofisk field at 130 °C and the Volhall field at 90 °C in Norway. However, as several studies have indicated, prolonged contact between rock samples and ion-modified water contributes to significant hydrophilization of the rock surface, as confirmed by contact angle measurements. The contact angle decreases from approximately 138.3° to 53.45° after exposure to ion-modified water. Additionally, the core flooding experiment demonstrated a slight increase in the oil displacement coefficient, reaching 9.2%. These findings suggest the potential for enhanced oil recovery by injecting Smart water into the Vereyian sediments, although further research is required to confirm the underlying mechanism.

 

Smart water, carbonate rock, wettability, Vereyian horizon

 

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Zalina R. Saptarova – Engineer, Hard-to-Recover Reserves Simulation Research and Educational Center, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

Alexander A. Mamonov – Researcher, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
Norway, Stavanger, 4033

Sergey A. Usmanov – Deputy Director, Hard-to-Recover Reserves Simulation Research and Educational Center, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

Azat A. Lutfullin – Cand. Sci. (Engineering), Deputy Head of the Department of Field Development, Tatneft PJSC
75 Lenin st., Almetyevsk, 423450, Russian Federation

Vladislav A. Sudakov – Deputy Director of the Institute for Innovations, Director of Hard-to-Recover Reserves Simulation Research and Educational Center, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

Maria S. Shipaeva – Technical Director, Geoindikator LLC; Engineer, Hard-to-Recover Reserves Simulation Research and Educational Center, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

Artur A. Shakirov – General Director, Geoindikator JSC; Deputy Director, Hard-to-Recover Reserves Simulation Research and Educational Center, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

Sergey A. Sitnov – Cand. Sci. (Chemistry), Senior Research Assistant, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
29, build. 1, Kremlevskaya st., Kazan, 420008, Russian Federation

Vadim K. Derevyanko – Engineer, Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technology, Kazan Federal University
4 Bolshaya Krasnaya str., Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation

 

For citation:

Saptarova Z.R., Mamonov A.A., Usmanov S.A., Lutfullin A.A., Sudakov V.A., Shipaeva M.S., Shakirov A.A., Sitnov S.A., Derevyanko V.K. (2023). Potential for improving the efficiency of carbonate oil deposits waterflooding with the use of controlled salinity technology (Smart water) at fields of Tatarstan Republic. Georesursy = Georesources, 25(4), pp. 92–105. https://doi.org/10.18599/grs.2023.4.6

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Georesursy LLC