The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the preparation
of the nanofluids based on the interactions between the surfactants,
nanoparticles, and brine for being applied in ultra-low interfacial
tension (IFT) for an enhanced oil recovery process. Three methodologies
for the addition of the salt–surfactant–nanoparticle
components for the formulation of an efficient injection fluid were
evaluated: order of addition (i) salts, nanoparticles, and surfactants,
(ii) salts, surfactants, and then nanoparticles, (iii) surfactants,
nanoparticles, and then salts. Also, the effects of the total dissolved
solids and the surfactant concentration were evaluated in the interfacial
tension for selecting the better formulation of the surfactant solution.
Three nanoparticles of different chemical natures were studied: silica
gel (SiO2), alumina (γ-Al2O3), and magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles. The
nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential, N2 physisorption
at −196 °C, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
In addition, the interactions between the surfactant, different types
of nanoparticles, and brine were investigated through adsorption isotherms
for the three methodologies. The nanofluids based on the different
nanoparticles were evaluated through IFT measurements using the spinning
drop method. The adsorbed amount of surfactant mixture on nanoparticles
decreased in the order of alumina > silica gel > magnetic iron
core–carbon
shell nanoparticles. The minimum IFT achieved was 1 × 10–4 mN m–1 following the methodology
II at a core–shell nanoparticle dosage of 100 mg L–1.
The nanotechnology has been applied
recently to increase the efficiency of enhanced oil recovery methods.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of SiO
2
nanoparticle functionalization with different loadings of
sodium oleate surfactant for polymer flooding processes. The sodium
oleate surfactant was synthesized using oleic acid and NaCl. The SiO
2
nanoparticles were functionalized by physical adsorption
using different surfactant loadings of 2.45, 4.08, and 8.31 wt % and
were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses, Fourier-transform
infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential.
Adsorption and desorption experiments of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide
(HPAM) polymer solutions over the unmodified and surface-modified
nanoparticles were performed, with higher adsorption capacity as the
surfactant loading increases. The adsorption isotherms have a type
III behavior, and polymer desorption from the nanoparticle surface
was considered null. The effect of nanoparticles in the polymer solutions
was evaluated through rheological measurements, interfacial tension
(IFT) tests, contact angle measurements, capillary number, and displacement
tests in a micromodel. The surface-modified SiO
2
nanoparticles
showed a slight effect on the viscosity of the polymer solution and
high influence on the IFT reduction and wettability alteration of
the porous medium leading to an increase of the capillary number.
Displacement tests showed that the oil recovery could increase up
to 23 and 77% regarding polymer flooding and water flooding, respectively,
by including the surface-functionalized materials.
Abstract:Catalytic steam gasification of extra-heavy oil (EHO) fractions was studied using functionalized aluminosilicates, with NiO, MoO 3 , and/or CoO nanoparticles with the aim of evaluating the synergistic effect between active phase and the support in heavy oil on-site upgrading. Catalysts were characterized by chemical composition through X-ray Fluorescence, surface area, and pore size distribution through N 2 adsorption/desorption, catalyst acidity by temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and metal dispersion by pulse H 2 chemisorption. Batch adsorption experiments and catalytic steam gasification of adsorbed heavy fractions was carried out by thermogravimetric analysis and were performed with heavy oil model solutions of asphaltenes and resins (R-A) in toluene. Effective activation energy estimation was used to determine the catalytic effect of the catalyst in steam gasification of Colombian EHO. Additionally, R-A decomposition under inert atmosphere was conducted for the evaluation of oil components reactions with active phases and steam atmosphere. The presence of a bimetallic active phase Inc.reases the decomposition of the heavy compounds at low temperature by an increase in the aliphatic chains decomposition and the dissociation of heteroatoms bonds. Also, coke formation after steam gasification process is reduced by the application of the bimetallic catalyst yielding a conversion greater than 93%.
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