Abstract: Methods of preparing an injection fluid for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery from a formation are described. A divalent salt is added to wastewater to form salinated wastewater. The salinated wastewater is tested for a shift in wettability. The salinated wastewater is tested for a change in oil recovery. The salinated wastewater is applied as an injection fluid. The shift in wettability is equal to or greater than a predetermined wettability differential value, and the change in oil recovery of the salinated wastewater is equal to or greater than a predetermined oil recovery differential value.

Abstract: Methods of preparing an injection fluid for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery from a formation are described. A divalent salt is added to wastewater to form salinated wastewater. The salinated wastewater is tested for a shift in wettability. The salinated wastewater is tested for a change in oil recovery. The salinated wastewater is applied as an injection fluid. The shift in wettability is equal to or greater than a predetermined wettability differential value, and the change in oil recovery of the salinated wastewater is equal to or greater than a predetermined oil recovery differential value.

Abstract: Example methods and systems are described for performing core-flood tests for evaluating effectiveness of hydrocarbon recovery techniques. In some aspects, a core-flood test system includes a core holder configured to be coupled to a computed tomography (CT) scanner system to monitor fluid saturations of a core including a rock sample and a core sleeve to be received in the core holder. The core holder and the core sleeve are separated by a confining space. The core sleeve is configured to receive the core. The core sleeve is configured to contact the core in response to a confining pressure applied to the core sleeve in the confining space and to be separate from the core in response to the confining pressure being removed, creating a fracture space between the core and the core sleeve.

Abstract: Example methods and systems are described for performing core-flood tests for evaluating effectiveness of hydrocarbon recovery techniques. In some aspects, a core-flood test system includes a core holder configured to be coupled to a computed tomography (CT) scanner system to monitor fluid saturations of a core including a rock sample and a core sleeve to be received in the core holder. The core holder and the core sleeve are separated by a confining space. The core sleeve is configured to receive the core. The core sleeve is configured to contact the core in response to a confining pressure applied to the core sleeve in the confining space and to be separate from the core in response to the confining pressure being removed, creating a fracture space between the core and the core sleeve.