Abstract
The phenomenon of spontaneous imbibition is widely present in the development process of tight oil/gas reservoirs. To further explore the spontaneous imbibition behavior of capillary tubes to provide theoretical and methodological references for the study of microscopic porous media imbibition phenomena, the capillaries that can be observed with the naked eye on the order of 10–100 μm were selected as research objects. Based on the theory of interface chemistry, the capillary end effect, and wetting hysteresis, the influence of the additional pressures generated by the two-phase interface on the spontaneous absorption of the horizontal capillary was studied. Some of the capillaries were processed for wettability, and then the water wettability of different capillaries was measured by the introduced concept, which is the conversion height of the self-absorption phase in the capillary. The capillaries were horizontally placed in the liquid for a spontaneous imbibition experiment, and the air–liquid two-phase menisci behavior was observed at the same time, and then the influence of water wettability, surfactant, and capillary diameter on spontaneous imbibition was discussed. It was found that in the equal diameter capillaries, the spontaneous air–liquid imbibition behavior of capillary tubes with different water wetting properties is different in sensitivity to surfactants and tube diameters; when surfactants are used to improve capillary water wettability to increase spontaneous imbibition efficiency, the initial water wettability of the capillary and the comprehensive changes in the capillary pressure caused by interfacial tension should be considered.
Highlights
Capillary spontaneous imbibition refers to the phenomenon that the wet phase displaces the nonwet phase only by capillary pressure without an external force
The behavior of the two-phase menisci in the capillary under different conditions is the basis for studying the influence on spontaneous imbibition, which is related to the matrix pore structure, the matrix opening surface, and reservoir/fluid physical properties in low-permeability oil/gas reservoirs.[16]
To further explore the spontaneous imbibition behavior of capillary tubes and their influencing factors to provide theoretical and methodological references for the study of microscopic porous media imbibition phenomena, the capillaries that can be observed with the naked eye on the order of 10−100 μm were selected as research objects
Summary
Capillary spontaneous imbibition refers to the phenomenon that the wet phase displaces the nonwet phase only by capillary pressure without an external force This phenomenon is widespread in industries such as construction, biochemistry, farmland irrigation, and mineral development.[1−5] Waterproof and antiseepage of high-rise building roofs,[6] soilless cultivation of plants by imbibition,[7] water-saving irrigation using soil imbibition,[8] development of coalbed methane and tight oil/gas reservoirs,[9] etc. The behavior of the two-phase menisci in the capillary under different conditions is the basis for studying the influence on spontaneous imbibition, which is related to the matrix pore structure, the matrix opening surface, and reservoir/fluid physical properties in low-permeability oil/gas reservoirs.[16] Washburn[17] connected one side of a capillary with water and the other side with air. Wang[21] considered the influence of fluid flow between double
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