Surface Energy Relationships In Petroleum Reservoirs

A TECHNIQUE has been developed which makes it possible to determine the spreading pressure of liquids and solids, for simple systems. Data for surface tensions, interfacial tensions, spreading pressures, and contact angles for water, heptane, and silica are tabulated. These results can be applied to the evaluation of capillary rise and displacement pressure in a petroleum reservoir. Appropriate equations are presented and the application of these equations is discussed. The presence of surface-active components affects both capillary rise and displacement pressure and also seems to influence the rate of fluid flow.