Adsorption mechanism study of viscoelastic surfactants with various molecular structures on oil and gas reservoir rocks

Abstract

As clean thickeners used in fracturing fluids or self-diverting acids, viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) have garnered increased attention for their unique properties. While VESs leave little residue, their adsorption on rocks can lead to adverse effects on oil and gas seepage. Herein, sandstone and limestone were utilized as adsorbents to examine a series of VESs with diverse molecular structures. The relationship between adsorption capacity and molecular structure was investigated, along with the impact of salinity and temperature on adsorption capacity through static and dynamic adsorption tests. Experiments were conducted at various temperatures (25 °C–100 °C) and different salinity levels (0–4 wt%) using sandstone and limestone as adsorbents. The wettability alteration caused by each VES solution was assessed to confirm the adsorption capacity of these VESs on sandstone and limestone. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to visually study the microscopic morphologies of rock surfaces after adsorption in VES solutions to investigate the adsorption characteristics. Owing to the differing charges between sandstone and limestone, the adsorption capacity of each VES varied. Cationic VESs tend to be absorbed by sandstone, while zwitterionic VESs are easily adsorbed by limestone. The increase in salinity considerably enhances the adsorption capacity of rocks, with a greater amplification on sandstone compared to limestone. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of cationic VESs on sandstone is highly sensitive to salinity owing to the ease with which their head groups are disrupted by ions. Rising temperatures can weaken adsorption capacity due to the breakdown of hydrogen bonding or van der Waals forces. The wettability changes caused by VES solutions on sandstone are more pronounced than on limestone. By combining experimental results, the mineral content of rocks, molecular structure characteristics of VESs, and adsorption-free energy, the adsorption mechanisms of various VESs with different molecular structures on rocks were examined. This research lays a theoretical foundation for optimizing VES molecular structures for the preparation of fracturing fluids or self-diverting acid.