IMAGING FLUID SOLID INTERACTIONS IN HYDROCARBON RESERVOIR ROCKS

The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) has been used to image liquid hydrocarbons in sandstones and oil shales. Additionally, the fluid sensitivity of selected clay minerals in hydrocarbon reserv oirs was assessed via three case studies: HCl acid sensitivity of auth igenic chlorite in sandstone reservoirs, freshwater sensitivity of aut higenic illite/smectite in sandstone reservoirs, and bleach sensitivit y of a volcanic reservoir containing abundant secondary chlorite/corre nsite. The results showed the suitability of using ESEM for imaging li quid hydrocarbon films in hydrocarbon reservoirs and the importance of simulating in situ fluid-rock interactions for hydrocarbon production programmes. In each case, results of the ESEM studies greatly enhance d prediction of reservoir/borehole reactions and, in some cases, contr adicted conventional wisdom regarding the outcome of potential enginee ring solutions. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.