Stabilizing
mechanism of silica nanoparticles on gelled foam prepared
with a very low concentration of polymer (xanthan gum) and surfactant
(α-olefin sulfonate) is reported in the present study. The morphology
of the foam at optimized composition reveals its improved stability,
owing to the adsorption of silica nanoparticles on the bubble interface,
which was further confirmed by microscopic images. The foam decay
experiments confirmed the slower drainage of liquids through the strong
and rough bubble interface in the presence of nanoparticles. The synergistic
effects of nanoparticles–polymer–surfactant help to
improvise rheology, viscoelastic properties and enhanced static proppant
suspension capacity of the foam. Addition of nanoparticles helps in
reducing the polymer concentration in the foam fluid without compromising
in stability criterion. Thus, the prepared gelled foam offers less
formation damage with improved rheology, and proppant carrying capacity
without any limitation to low-temperature application.
The rheological properties of viscoelastic surfactant (VES)-based gels prepared from a single surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate) and mixed surfactants (cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium lauryl sulfate) are characterized and interpreted in detail with the addition of alkali. The phase diagrams were prepared to identify the gel region. These were pseudoplastic fluids with shear-thinning nature. VES fluids prepared from mixed surfactants consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium lauryl sulfate presented better rheology as analyzed. The effect of the addition of nanoparticles to this system was also studied in detail for enhancement of the thermal stability. A dynamic rheology test was also conducted to show enhancement of the storage and loss modulus with the addition of alkali and nanoparticles. A miscibility test was conducted to show the miscibility of the prepared gel with oil and water because it is one of the properties of fracturing fluid used to clean the postfractured formation.
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