Abstract
Abstract The study investigates a novel Pickering emulsion as a viable plugging agent for conformance control application using a heterogeneous glass micromodel setup. The oil-in-water emulsion was stabilized by a cost-effective, newly-developed porous microcomposite emulsifier which provides a highly stable system which creates a superior double steric barrier mechanism combining surface adsorption with internal droplet entrapment exceeding the stability of conventionally used single-steric barrier Pickering emulsions. The micromodel, featuring high- and low-permeability zones, was used to visually analyze the pore-scale plugging mechanism and flow diversion under both oil-wet and water-wet conditions. Injection of a low-rate emulsion slug allowed capillary forces to dominate, promoting effective droplet trapping. Results showed the emulsion preferentially invaded and restricted flow in the high-permeability channels. Both single-droplet and multiple-droplet plugging were observed, notably via the Jamin effect, creating a robust barrier. This successfully diverted the following brine into previously unswept, low-permeability zones under both wettability conditions, thereby significantly improving macroscopic sweep efficiency. This research confirms the potential of this advanced porous microcomposite-stabilized Pickering emulsion as an efficient, pore-scale fluid diversion agent for EOR in heterogeneous formations.