No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The use of nanoparticles is a known solution for challenges related to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods, and nanoparticles have good potential for changing effective mechanisms, such as wettability alteration and interfacial tension (IFT) reduction. On the basis of our last research, it was observed that using associated gas in a water alternative gas (WAG) method has a high recovery potential in comparison to other gases, such as CO 2 and N 2 , in carbonate reservoirs. In this study, zeolite−zirconia−cerium oxide nanocomposites (NCs) with an average size of 29.15 nm have been synthesized by the sol−gel method for improving water alternative associated gas tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), IFT, contact angle, WAG, and nano-assisted WAG tests were designed in the presence of NCs. The XRD and EDX patterns confirmed the formation of CeO 2 and ZrO 2 nanoparticles over the formed zeolite framework. SEM images show that the zirconia−cerium particles are uniformly distributed at the surface of zeolite. Moreover, BET analysis shows that the specific surface area of the NCs is 331.67 m 2 /g as a result of introducing ZrO 2 and CeO 2 . The IFT and contact angle values of nanofluids prepared with concentrations of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 ppm of the NCs were determined as 22 mN/m and 116°, 19.50 mN/ m and 86°, 17.30 mN/m and 70°, 12.50 mN/m and 42°, 8.60 mN/m and 36°, and 6.80 mN/m and 38°, respectively. On the basis of these values and ζ potential, viscosity, pH, and density tests in the presence of NCs, 100 ppm was selected as an optimum concentration for improving WAG tests. It was observed that considering the above factors was efficient and the recovery factor during performing NC-assisted WAG test was increased from 42.5 to 72% at a constant WAG ratio and temperature of 1:1 and 40 °C, respectively. Moreover, more instant oil and lower produced water were observed during performing a NC-assisted WAG test at an optimum concentration of 100 ppm.

No abstract

A fixed‐bed system of rapid temperature swing adsorption (RTSA), which uses a solid absorbent for dehydration of butanol, was studied. The packed bed was simulated using proper partial and algebraic equations which were solved by the central difference method in MATLAB software. The equilibrium relationship and fixed‐bed breakthrough curves were determined experimentally. The value of unknown parameters such as equilibrium constants, liquid film mass transfer coefficient, intraparticle diffusion coefficient, and axial diffusivity were estimated by appropriate equations. The model fitted well to experimental breakthrough data. The results proved that it would be possible to operate a complete RSTA cycle in just a few hours to allow a large quantity of organic solvent dehydrated with reasonable concentration.

No abstract

Using nanoparticles for adsorbing asphaltene was known as an efficient method among researchers for crude oil upgrading. In this study, zeolite-zirconia-copper nanocomposites (NCs) have been synthesized and characterized with Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Then, CO2-oil interfacial tension (IFT) tests, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, asphaltene precipitation tests at static phase, and dynamic CO2 flooding tests were performed in the presence of NCs and the results were compared with zeolite nanoparticles. Based on the characterization results, zirconia-copper particles were distributed at the surface of zeolite with total dimensions less than 30 nm, and the specific surface areas of the NCs (327.82 m2/g) was less than the pure zeolite (369.48 m2/g). It was seen that NCs had a greater asphaltene adsorption capacity and the application of decreasing asphaltene precipitation was higher in comparison to the zeolite nanoparticles. Accordingly, NCs were selected for performing dynamic CO2 tests and investigation of the permeability and porosity reduction parameters at obtained static condition. After adding NCs at the dynamic phase, asphaltene depositions that occured after CO2 injection was decreased and permeability/porosity reduction parameters were improved.