Evaluating the Efficacy of Low Salinity Waterflood and Electrokinetic Enhanced Oil Recovery in Mitigating Gas Condensate Banking

Abstract

Condensate banking is a key challenge for gas condensate reservoirs with low permeability as it reduces gas relative permeability as much as ~60% near the wellbore. Condensate banking occurs when the bottom-hole pressure in the near-well bore region falls below the dew-point pressure of the gas. This study investigates condensate-banking treatment using a combined low-salinity waterflooding (LSW) and electrokinetic enhanced oil recovery (EK-EOR) techniques. The theoretical framework proposed in this paper is derived from the principles of fluid-rock interaction, electrokinetic phenomena, and water salinity. Methodologically, results from IFT laboratory experiments were fed into simulation models and used to evaluate the effectiveness of LSW-EKEOR treatment. Numerical simulations were performed using a synthetic reservoir model that captures typical reservoir conditions, including pressure, temperature, fluid properties, and rock characteristics. The results show that combining LSW with EKEOR increases condensate recovery by 228%, primarily by reducing gas condensate accumulation—particularly in high-permeability zones. Additionally, the approach suggests a potentially superior environmental performance by lowering the energy required for treatment and reducing chemical use. The discussion explores the broader implications of this technique for future oil recovery processes, emphasizing its potential to reduce operational costs and carbon footprints in mature fields.