Pore scale characterisation of the wettability of petroleum reservoir core material: Towards optimised recovery of hydrocarbon reserves

A primary cause of poor recovery of hydrocarbons from oil reservoirs is lack of knowledge regarding the wettability state of the rock. This project aims to understand the reasons for suboptimal recovery by characterising both the structure of reservoir core at the pore scale in 3D using x-ray microtomographic imaging, and its wettability using multiphoton microscopy. This information will be incorporated into state-of-the-art network modelling software to predict recovery and relative permeability in cores, with predictions verified by direct comparison with experiment. This will provide improved understanding of pore scale mechanisms driving oil displacement and implications of wettability to recovery.