Controlling interfacial phenomena at the oil/water interface is relevant in many practical applications. For example, to achieve enhanced oil recovery from nanopores of oil reservoir rocks, it is essential to increase the mobility of the oil phase present in these nanopores. In the present study, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine structure and behavior of oil/water mixtures and interfaces in calcite nanopores, in dependence of two parameters: 1) nanopore size; and 2) oil/water composition. We determine that oil/water mixtures exist in two different phases, in which oil assumes either the droplet form or the bulk mobile form. Phase transformations, from oil droplet to mobile oil, occur when nanopore sizes are decreased, while oil/water mixtures have larger fractions of oil where thin layer of water is formed on the calcite surface.

Effects of confinement and composition on oil/water interface in nanopore environment

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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