Experimental investigation and machine learning modeling of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid agents in sandstone rock wettability alteration: Implications for enhanced oil recovery processes

Abstract

Chelating agents have garnered increasing attention due to their unique capabilities in addressing challenges associated with chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) materials. This research investigates the transformative potential of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) chelating agent in altering sandstone rock wettability. Wettability and zeta potential measurements were used to assess the impact of crucial factors including DTPA concentration, salinity, and potential determining ions (PDIs) on contact angle and rock surface charges. The findings revealed that there is an optimal level for DTPA concentration and salinity that can shift rock wettability from an oil-wet to strongly water-wet state. Moreover, while PDIs in their natural concentrations had no significant impact on DTPA performance, a threefold increase in their concentration was found to adversely affect DTPA efficacy. After conducting rock wettability tests, two advanced machine learning (ML) techniques, namely Random Forest (RF) and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT), were employed to assess rock/oil contact angle based on the aforementioned factors. Data were collected from 240 experimental datasets of contact angles. The findings indicated that both models performed well, but BRT exhibited exceptional performance. Sensitivity analysis, conducted using the Jackknife method, revealed the order of importance for parameters affecting wettability as follows: PDIs > salinity > time > DTPA concentration.