Direct Experimental Evidence for the Membrane Behavior of the Hydrocarbon Phase Using a Novel Buoyancy-Based Method: Implications for Smart Waterflooding

Despite extensive research on smart waterflooding, the physicochemical mechanisms responsible for its enhanced oil recovery performance remain incompletely understood. In this study, a novel buoyancy-based experimental method was developed to directly investigate water transport through the hydrocarbon phase under controlled salinity gradients. Unlike previous approaches, the proposed configuration eliminates alternative transport pathways, enabling unambiguous measurement of permeation through the hydrocarbon phase. The results demonstrate that water transport increases systematically with salinity contrast, providing direct experimental evidence for the membrane behavior of the hydrocarbon phase. These findings establish a robust experimental framework for investigating osmotically driven transport and contribute to a deeper mechanistic understanding of smart waterflooding.

کلیدواژه ها:

Smart Waterflooding ، Hydrocarbon Phase ، Semipermeable Membrane ، Osmotically Driven Water Transport ، Enhanced Oil Recovery