Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles
Abstract Fluid/fluid and fluid/rock interfaces have large influence on the microscopic sweep efficiency of an enhanced oil recovery process. Therefore, modification of these interfaces using nanoparticles to suitable conditions might lead to better recovery factors. Particularly, wettability alterat...
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doaj-ce8bacf8d7c840ad855b6571419ff4292020-11-24T22:04:12ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662017-05-018125926910.1007/s13202-017-0347-xImproving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticlesMehdi Zallaghi0Riyaz Kharrat1Abdolnabi Hashemi2Tehran Petroleum Research center, Petroleum University of TechnologyTehran Petroleum Research center, Petroleum University of TechnologyFaculty of Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum University of TechnologyAbstract Fluid/fluid and fluid/rock interfaces have large influence on the microscopic sweep efficiency of an enhanced oil recovery process. Therefore, modification of these interfaces using nanoparticles to suitable conditions might lead to better recovery factors. Particularly, wettability alteration and interfacial tension reduction are the two key mechanisms which should be considered. This study was designed to address the capability of nanoparticles to be used as a chemical agent for enhanced oil recovery by several core flooding experiments. The injected chemical solution was prepared using synthetic brine containing %3 NaCl, silica nanoparticles, and SDS surfactant. Contact angle in rock/oil/solution system and interfacial tension between oil/solution were measured. In addition, SEM pictures and XRD analysis were taken to conduct a more thorough investigation of effect of nanoparticles on sandstone core plugs. Nanoparticles and surfactant mixture were flooded with various concentrations under different scenarios. The results show the incremental oil recovery of nanoparticles floods in sandstone core samples which ranged from 4.85 to 11.7%. Conversely, the enhanced oil recovery of high concentration of nanoparticle floods in cores was small. It is deduced that the mechanisms responsible for incremental oil recovery are mainly interfacial tension reduction and wettability alteration toward water-wet condition. However, the flooding results as well as experimental study of possible retention revealed that nanoparticles can be considered as an effective chemical agent in enhanced oil recovery.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-017-0347-xNanoparticlesOil recoveryCore floodingIFTWettability |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mehdi Zallaghi Riyaz Kharrat Abdolnabi Hashemi |
spellingShingle |
Mehdi Zallaghi Riyaz Kharrat Abdolnabi Hashemi Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology Nanoparticles Oil recovery Core flooding IFT Wettability |
author_facet |
Mehdi Zallaghi Riyaz Kharrat Abdolnabi Hashemi |
author_sort |
Mehdi Zallaghi |
title |
Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
title_short |
Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
title_full |
Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
title_fullStr |
Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
title_sort |
improving the microscopic sweep efficiency of water flooding using silica nanoparticles |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
issn |
2190-0558 2190-0566 |
publishDate |
2017-05-01 |
description |
Abstract Fluid/fluid and fluid/rock interfaces have large influence on the microscopic sweep efficiency of an enhanced oil recovery process. Therefore, modification of these interfaces using nanoparticles to suitable conditions might lead to better recovery factors. Particularly, wettability alteration and interfacial tension reduction are the two key mechanisms which should be considered. This study was designed to address the capability of nanoparticles to be used as a chemical agent for enhanced oil recovery by several core flooding experiments. The injected chemical solution was prepared using synthetic brine containing %3 NaCl, silica nanoparticles, and SDS surfactant. Contact angle in rock/oil/solution system and interfacial tension between oil/solution were measured. In addition, SEM pictures and XRD analysis were taken to conduct a more thorough investigation of effect of nanoparticles on sandstone core plugs. Nanoparticles and surfactant mixture were flooded with various concentrations under different scenarios. The results show the incremental oil recovery of nanoparticles floods in sandstone core samples which ranged from 4.85 to 11.7%. Conversely, the enhanced oil recovery of high concentration of nanoparticle floods in cores was small. It is deduced that the mechanisms responsible for incremental oil recovery are mainly interfacial tension reduction and wettability alteration toward water-wet condition. However, the flooding results as well as experimental study of possible retention revealed that nanoparticles can be considered as an effective chemical agent in enhanced oil recovery. |
topic |
Nanoparticles Oil recovery Core flooding IFT Wettability |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-017-0347-x |
work_keys_str_mv |
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1725830029019971584 |