Vol. 337 No. 9 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/9/5266
Electric field effect on the filtration of oil and aqueous surfactant solutions in porous media with different permeabilities
Relevance. The need to analyze and identify the patterns of changes in fluid filtration rates under the effect of an electric field (its strength and orientation), as well as under varying pressure drops, sample permeability, and the properties of the filtrating fluids, including aqueous surfactant solutions, crude oil, and petroleum products. Under current reservoir development conditions, changes in reservoir fluid properties, including increased water cut and mineralization, require new approaches to controlling filtration processes. Aim. To establish the patterns governing changes in the filtration rates of crude oil, petroleum products, and aqueous solutions of surfactants (surface-active agents) in porous media with different permeabilities under variations in the magnitude and direction of the electric field, pressure drop, temperature, and the properties of the filtered fluids. Methods. Laboratory experiments were performed using specialized equipment featuring precise temperature regulation (thermostat with water jacket), adjustable pressure gradients, controlled sample permeability, and electric field polarity variation. The electroosmotic filtration kinetics through clay, cement, and carbonate cores were systematically investigated. Electroosmotic permeability coefficients were quantified across a range of surfactant concentrations, solution salinities, and temperature regimes. Results and conclusions. It is shown that the application of an electric field induces electroosmosis – liquid movement in pores under the action of electric forces. The process intensity depends on surfactant concentration, solution mineralization, temperature, medium permeability, and field orientation. When the electric field was aligned with the direction of fluid flow, the filtration rate increased markedly, while an opposite orientation reduced it. The strongest effect of the electric field was identified in low-permeability cores. Although the general form of the dependencies remained unchanged with variations in pressure differential, the intensity of the effect grew as permeability decreased. The results obtained have significant practical implications, as they can be utilized to advance methods for isolating intercolumn flows, enhance chemical treatments of the near-wellbore zone, and increase the reliability of equipment protection against the formation of salt-paraffin deposits.
For citation: Saduakassov D.S., Deryaev A.R., Eshmuratov A.B., Sanetullaev E.Е. Electric field effect on the filtration of oil and aqueous surfactant solutions in porous media with different permeabilities. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 9, pp. 148–161. http://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/9/5266
Keywords:
electroosmosis, fluid filtration, porous media, surfactants, permeability, electric field
References:
1. Gao Y., Wang C., Gong Z., Li Z. A mini review on electroosmotic phenomena in porous media. Deleted Journal, 2024, vol. 2, no. 3, 480 p.
2. Serebryannikov A.A., Zyatykov P.N. Study of the effect of polymer compositions on filtration flows of the Yu12+3 reservoir of the “Kh” oil field. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2022, vol. 333, no. 11, pp. 63–70. (In Russ.)
3. Revil A., Pézard P., Glover P. Streaming potential in porous media: theory of the zeta potential. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 1999, vol. 104, pp. 20033–20048.
4. Kadet V.V., Korjuzlov A.S. Electrokinetic effects on pressure-driven flow in porous media. ECMOR XI – 11th European Conference on the Mathematics of Oil Recovery. Bergen, Norway, 2008. pp. 62–98.
5. Gasumov R.A., Kostyukov S.V., Gasumov R.R., Lukyanov V.T., Dudaev S.A. Preservation of filtration-capacity properties of productive formations during their temporary isolation. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Neft i gaz, 2017, no. 4, pp. 58–66. (In Russ.)
6. Pengra D.B., Wong P.Z. Electrokinetic phenomena in porous media. MRS Online Proceedings Library, 1995, vol. 407, no. 1, pp. 3–14.
7. Jin Y., Misra S., Homan D., Rasmus J., Revil A. Mechanistic model of multi-frequency complex conductivity of porous media containing water-wet nonconductive and conductive particles at various water saturations. Advances in Water Resources, 2019, vol. 130, pp. 244–257.
8. Godoi J.M.A., Dos Santos Matai P.H.L. Enhanced oil recovery with carbon dioxide geosequestration: first steps at Pre-salt in Brazil. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production, 2021, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 1429–1441.
9. Wakeman R.J., Williams C.J. Additional techniques to improve microfiltration. Separation and Purification Technology, 2002, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 3–18.
10. Bayamirova R., Togasheva A., Saduakasov D., Zholbasarova A., Tabylganov M., Gusmanova A., Nugumarov S. Reservoir development and well operation control methods: practical application. Processes, 2025, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 1541.
11. Kotenev Yu.A., Sultanov Sh.Kh., Chibisov A.V., Chilikin V.M. Comprehensive assessment of geological heterogeneity of reservoir systems when solving the problem of regulating the process of oil reserves recovery. Nanotekhnologii v stroitelstve, 2024, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 473–484. (In Russ.)
12. Saduakasov D.S., Zholbasarova A.T., Bayamirova R.U., Togasheva A.R., Tabylganov M.T., Sarbopeeva M.D., Telin A.G. Well killing with absorption control. Journal of Mining Institute, 2025, vol. 272, pp. 119–135.
13. Puértolas E., Barba F.J. Electrotechnologies applied to valorization of by-products from food industry: main findings, energy and economic cost of their industrialization. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 2016, vol. 100, pp. 172–184.
14. Minkin M., Kuimov D. Development of the principles of mathematical modelling and management of behaviour of fine dust fractions of various nature in non-uniform electric field. MATEC Web of Conferences, 2018, vol. 226, 02029 p.
15. Saini R., Kenny M., Barz D.P.J. Electroosmotic flow through packed beds of granular materials. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 2015, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 693–708.
16. Liato V., Labrie S., Benali M., Aïder M. Ion exchange membrane-assisted electro-activation of aqueous solutions: effect of the operating parameters on solutions properties and system electric resistance. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2015, vol. 93, pp. 124–138.
17. Austin J., Fernandes D., Ruszala M.J.A., Hill N., Corbett J.C.W. Routine, ensemble characterisation of electrophoretic mobility in high and saturated ionic dispersions. Scientific Reports, 2020, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 4628.
18. Hawthorne S.B., Jonker M.T., van der Heijden S.A., Grabanski C.B., Azzolina N.A., Miller D.J. Measuring picogram per liter concentrations of freely dissolved parent and alkyl PAHs (PAH-34), using passive sampling with polyoxymethylene. Analytical Chemistry, 2011, vol. 83, no. 17, pp. 6754–6761.
19. Folomeev A.E., Vakhrushev S.A., Khatmullin A.R., Malinin A.V., Lenchenkova L.E., Turiyanov A.R., Davidenko I.S. Reducing the negative impact of technological fluids on productive objects of the Sorovskoe field by their modification. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2022, vol. 333, no. 2, pp. 26–37. (In Russ.)
20. Aggour M.A., Tchelepi H.A., Al-Yousef H.Y. Effect of electroosmosis on relative permeabilities of sandstones. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 1994, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 91–102.
