Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Graphene and its derivatives, with their unique two-dimensional structures and excellent physical and chemical properties, have been an international research hotspot both in the research community and industry. However, in application-oriented research in the oil and gas industry they have only drawn attention in the past several years. Their excellent optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical performance make them great candidates for use in oil and gas exploration, drilling, production, and transportation. Combined with the actual requirements for well working fluids, chemical enhanced oil recovery, heavy oil recovery, profile control and water shutoff, tracers, oily wastewater treatment, pipeline corrosion prevention treatment, and tools and apparatus, etc., this paper introduces the behavior in water and toxicity to organisms of graphene and its derivatives in detail, and comprehensively reviews the research progress of graphene materials in the upstream oil and gas industry. Based on this, suggestions were put forward for the future research. This work is useful to the in-depth mechanism research and application scope broadening research in the upstream oil and gas industry.

Recent Advances in the Applications of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in the Petroleum Industry: A Descriptive Review

“…Some of the techniques that have been used include centrifugation, filtration, flotation, evaporation, distillation, ion exchange, precipitation, electrolysis, electrodialysis, adsorption, crystallization, micro and ultra-filtration, sedimentation and gravity separation, reverse osmosis, and coagulation. [59] However, these current technologies have a number of drawbacks, including the fact that they are time-consuming and expensive, as well as the fact that they produce dangerous sludge. There are four types of nanomaterials: 1) nano adsorbents, 2) nanomembranes, 3) nanocatalysts, and 4) nanofiber.…”

Water–Sulfuric Acid Foam as a Possible Habitat for Hypothetical Microbial Community in the Cloud Layer of Venus

“…Another large group of inclusions which could stabilize the hypothetical habitable foam of Venusian clouds can be composed of abiogenic compounds such as metal particles, highly dispersed mineral powders, silica particles, and other inorganic compounds or crystal structures [35,42,51,53,54]. Moreover, the examples of inorganic foams formed from materials common on Earth and under temperatures typical for Venus are known.…”

“…Extremely high temperature and pressure on Venus's surface exclude the possibility of Earth-type life on its surface [24]. Nevertheless, such conditions allow the chemical reactions resulting in the abiogenic synthesis of complex polymers [54,58] In the presence of an iron catalyst and highly accessible atmospheric CO 2 and N 2 , these compounds can be further involved in the synthesis of high molecular compounds of g-C 3 N 4 formula, due to their graphite structure and triazine monomers. According to the hypothesis of Ksanfomality [58], such types of complex compounds could have been the basis for the development of life forms that are able to persist on Venus's surface.…”

Recent advances in the applications of graphene materials for the oil and gas industry

“…In recent years, graphene and its derivatives have been used in the oil and gas industry due to their excellent physicochemical properties, and there are many reviews addressing related studies. 6,7 However, some reviews only focus on one aspect of graphene-based materials in the oil recovery industry, focusing on the application of graphene nanocomposites in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), 8 and some on the application in oil–water separation or in the removal of aromatic organic compounds from water. 9–11 Some reviews do not include only graphene-based materials, but address the whole range of nanomaterials and are oriented only towards applications in drilling fluids, with a focus on functionalized nanomaterials, 12 applications of materials whose feedstock is waste.…”