SWELLING BEHAVIOUR OF MIXED-LAYER CLAYS IN HYDROCARBON RESERVOIRS

The freshwater sensitivity of a variety of mixed-layer illite/smectite and chlorite/smectite clays has been studied with an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) in order to determine whether all hydrocarbon reservoirs hosting these clays should be regarded as freshwater sensitive. Experimental procedures involved closely comparing in situ mixed-layer clay within selected areas at high magnification before and after prolonged freshwater treatments.The response of smectite-rich illite/smectite (two samples; 10–20 per cent illite interlayers) to freshwater immersion varied greatly. One sample rapidly swelled to many times its original volume to form a pervasive gel that greatly reduced porosity and permeability, whereas the other sample underwent only a subtle morphological change that had little or no adverse effect on reservoir quality. Illite-rich illite/smectite (three samples; 65—>85 per cent illite interlayers) and chlorite-rich chlorite/smectite (two samples; 50 per cent and >70 per cent chlorite interlayers) underwent no morphological change when immersed in freshwater for up to three months, indicating that these clays in sandstones are unlikely to cause formation damage due to swelling if exposed to freshwater-based fluids.