L41012 Effect of Methyltrichlorosilane on Permeability of Sandstone Cores To Gas and Water

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using silane to retard the influx of water into natural-gas storage wells and to determine the necessary requirements for achieving this result. The success or failure of silane treatment as a remedial measure depends on its effect on gas-production rate and attendant water production. Of 13 cores treated with silane, 6 showed an increase in effective permeability to gas. However, only one of the six showed a decrease in the effective permeability to water, and the other five showed increases. The remaining seven cores showed a decrease in effective permeability to gas. Four of these seven cores showed increases in the effective permeability to water, and three showed decreases.

The effect of silane on Torpedo sandstone cores was investigated by determining effective permeability’s to water and gas as a function of water saturation before and after treatment. This effect depends on the water saturation in the core at the time of injection, the core, the distribution of repellent film within and the amount of liquid silane injected.