This paper presents results of an experimental investigation, supported by numerical analysis, to characterize oil recovery from fractured carbonate reservoirs. Imbibition recovery of oil is measured as a function of time for samples with varying wettability and shape factors. One of the objectives of this study is to verify the validity of exponential transfer function for matrix-fracture systems with varying wettability and flow-boundary conditions. Another objective is to establish the possibility of quantitatively determining the wettability of a sample based on history-matching of cumulative imbibition recovery and recovery rate data.
The productivity of most carbonate oil and gas reservoirs is closely tied to the natural or stimulated fracture system present in the reservoir. Further, the recovery from naturally fractured reservoirs, in presence of aquifer drive or waterflooding is closely tied to the wettability of the matrix. The approach presented in this paper offers means to evaluate how recovery factor in a fractured system can be affected by wettability. A detailed understanding of rock-fluid interactions and wettability alterations at the fracturing face should help design improved strategies for exploiting naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs.
