Abstract
El-Gassier, MM., Omar, A.E., Dahab, A.S. and Awad-el-Kariem, H., 1991. Relative permeability restoration using primary alcohols. J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 6: 73-80. Two primary alcohols, iso-propanol and n-hexanol, were tested for the restoration of the permeability of damaged sandstone cores. The sandstone cores were Berea sandstone and two sandstone samples from Saudi reservoirs. Permeability damage was established by displacement with fresh water and was characterized by a decrease in the relative permeability to oil and increase in the oil residual saturations. The extent of damage varied according to the mineralogical composition. Treatment with isopropanol had no effect on the damaged relative permeability to oil nor on the increased oil residual saturation resulting in no change in the oil recovery. Therefore, it was considered to be an unsuccessful additive. N-hexanol, however, proved to be a successful additive. It increased the oil recovery by as much as 6% in some cases.