Effect of Various Silica Nanofluids: Reduction of Fines Migrations and Surface Modification of Berea Sandstone

Abstract

This work is aimed at addressing surface modification of berea sandstone by silica nanofluids (NFs). Three types of nanofluids were used: silica/deionized water (DIW), silica in DIW with a stabilizer fluid (3-Mercaptopropyl Trimethoxysilane) and sulfonate-functionalized silica in DIW. Core flood studies showed that application of silica nanoparticles (NPs) improved water injectivity in sandstone. The change in the measured zeta potential indicated surface modification of sandstone by application of NPs. Computation of the surface forces showed that the modified berea sandstone has net attractive potential with fines (obtained from water/rock interaction) leading to reduction of fines migration, hence improvement of water injectivity. It was also observed that the silica NPs have greater affinity to adhere/adsorb on quartz surfaces than kaolinite in berea core. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscope imaging and isothermal static adsorption tests. Although the stabilizing of NFs almost did not reduce the fine migration, as was qualitatively indicated by the pressure drop, it enhanced the NPs adsorption on the minerals as obtained by isothermal static adsorption tests. The reduction of fines migration due surface modification by silica NP suggests that NPs can be utilized to overcome the problem of formation damage induced during low salinity flooding in sandstones.

Effect of Silica Nanoparticles on Fluid/Rock Interactions during Low Salinity Water Flooding of Chalk Reservoirs

“…However, increased calcite dissolution induced by low salinity interaction with chalk during flooding may lead to loss of rock integrity [43]. Previous work in our lab investigated the adsorption different silica NPs on sandstone minerals and its effect on fines migration [44]. We found the silica NPs modifies the sandstones minerals and it can be utilized to overcome the problem of formation damage induced during low salinity flooding in sandstones.…”

Special Issue on “Nanotech for Oil and Gas”

“…One paper explores NPs for EOR applications. The paper by Abhishek et al [6] studied the potential of different silica nanofluids as surface modifying agents for Berea sandstone. Surface modification of sandstone by silica NPs has net attractive potential with fines, leading to reduction of fines migration and improvement of water injectivity.…”

Effects of Nanoparticle Materials on Prebreakdown and Breakdown Properties of Transformer Oil

“…A variety of nanoparticle (NP) materials have been used to prepare transformer oil-based nanofluids, exhibiting different modification effects. It is found that the positive lightning impulse breakdown voltage of mineral transformer oil can be improved by 82.6% with the addition of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles [13]. For TiO 2 nanofluid, the breakdown voltage is increased by 23.6% [14].…”

“…Many efforts have been devoted to improve the positive breakdown voltage of transformer oil. In the past two decades, nanofluids (NFs) have attracted much attention due to their good insulating and thermal performance [12,13]. A variety of nanoparticle (NP) materials have been used to prepare transformer oil-based nanofluids, exhibiting different modification effects.…”