Nanotechnology has become the buzz word of the decade! The precise manipulation and control of matter at dimensions of (1-100) nanometers have revolutionized many industries including the Oil and Gas industry. Its broad impact on more than one discipline is making it of increasing interest to concerned parties.The Nanotechnology applications have pierced through different Petroleum disciplines from Exploration, to Reservoir, Drilling, Completion, Production and Processing & Refinery. For instance, Nano-sensors have been developed rapidly to enhance the resolution of the subsurface imaging leading to advanced field characterization techniques. Nanotechnology also strikes the stage of production enormously to enhance the oil recovery via molecular modification and manipulate the interfacial characteristics. Moreover, in a very similar fashion, it provides novel approaches to improved post production processes.Only very few publications were able to report the latest accomplishments in different Petroleum Engineering domains. This paper provides an overview of the latest Nano-technological solutions in the O&G industry and covers the recent research developments that have been carried out around the world and paves the way for many researchers and organizations who are interested in the integration of these technological advancements, to discover the challenges and the revolution that Nanotechnology is about to bring to O&G Industry in Egypt.Egypt's domestic demand for oil is increasing rapidly. Oil consumption has grown by more than 30% in the past ten years. Also, the hydrocarbon reserves in Egypt have witnessed an average increase of 5%/year over the past seven years, while the average recovery factor is still stuck at the 35%. Nanotechnology holds the key solution to this local production challenge as it helps increase the recovered Oil and decrease the cost of production by eliminating problems that occur throughout the field development operations.
By increasing worldwide energy demand and reducing reserves, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from current fields has become more and more important. Moving from polymer to surfactant flooding, Chemical EOR has been considered an expensive method, and field applications have been decreased during the past two decades. Currently with the advent of nanotechnology, nanomaterials has been created and proposed to be used for EOR. Different nano materials with different sizes have been proposed. Among the various nano-material used for EOR applications, nano-silica with different sizes has been suggested.In this paper, a ball milling attritor has been used to produce nano silica from white sand. By operating the attritor for a different time, different sized formed. Four different sizes have been created after 5, 10, 15, and 25 hours milling. The size and shape of the powder particles were examined using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) while their microanalysis was performed by energy dispersive system (EDS). The prepared nano particles were found 140, 122, 100, and 87 nm after 5, 10, 15, and 25 hours of milling respectively. Several flooding scenarios have been tried to identify potential applications that will benefit upstream sector and oil recovery. A base run with water flooding (WF) was performed. The ultimate recovery factor by WF was found 67%. The ultimate recovery factors have been measured for these four nano materials and they are ranging from 65% to 77 %. To combine chemical EOR and nano materials, a mixture of nano material (87-nm) and polymer (xanthan gum) has been used as well, and its recovery factor is found 80%. The mechanisms of this development in the recovery has been explained. This paper summarizes new findings from several different experimental runs which shows the effectiveness of the nano silica particles for improving oil recovery over the traditional methods. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this work can be used to improve and narrow the range of nano-size applications for improving the recovery factors and proposed a roadmap for ongoing and future research.
To maintain the production and improve the recovery of hydrocarbons, nano materials are introduced recently. Improved oil recovery (IOR) is the application of various techniques for increasing the quantity of the crude oil that can be recovered from a hydrocarbon oil field. Among these techniques are chemical injection, which has been an expensive method, and field applications have been decreased during the past two decades. Currently with the advent of nanotechnology, nanofluids have been launched as a cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to other chemicals. Nanomaterials has been created and proposed to be used for IOR. Several nano materials with various sizes and concentrations have been proposed. Among the various these nanomaterials, nano-silica, nano alumina, nano zinc, and nano iron with different sizes has been recommended.In the present work, two different nano materials used to improve the recovery of oil experimentally. These nano materials are; nano silica, and nano alumina. The size of each nano material is varies from 80 to 87 nm. The size and shape of each particles were examined using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) while their microanalysis was performed by Energy Dispersive System (EDS). Some these materials are prepared mechanically using ball mill such as nano silica and the others are created chemically such as nano alumina.Numerous flooding scenarios have been performed to compare between the potentials of each nanofluids used to improve the hydrocarbon recovery. A control experimental run with water flooding (WF) was performed first. The ultimate recovery factor by WF was found about 67%. Then a flooding process using each nano fluid has been conducted for three different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt%). The ultimate recovery factors have been measured for all of these nano fluids and they are ranging from 62% to 81 %. The reasons for this improving have been addressed and explained by measuring the viscosity of these nano fluids and interfacial tension.This research examines and analyzes the new outcomes from implementing these nanomaterials for improving oil recovery over the traditional methods. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this work can be used to interpret and define the nanofluids improvement mechanisms, and projected a roadmap for ongoing and future work.
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