Foams Stabilized by In Situ-Modified Nanoparticles and Anionic Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

Foams have been widely used in oilfields for effective profile control and displacement. However, foams stabilized by surfactants lack long-term stability, especially in an oil reservoir. Here, we have studied the in situ modification of positively charged AlOOH nanoparticles via the adsorption of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the characterization of foam stabilized by AlOOH nanoparticles in synergy with SDS under different conditions. Changes in the zeta potential and adsorption isotherm of the AlOOH nanoparticles confirmed their modification. The most stable foam was obtained with an SDS/AlOOH concentration ratio of 5:1; further increases of the SDS concentration led to a decrease and subsequent increase in foam stability. The relationships between the zeta potential, three-phase contact angle, nanoparticle aggregate size, and foam stability were comprehensively analyzed, revealing that foam stability was affected by all of these factors. We concluded that nanoparticles with partial hydrophobicity, a positive or slightly negative charge, and small aggregate size can be adsorbed tightly to foam surfaces and form compact networks in the foam’s film, thereby resulting in a stable foam. The SDS/AlOOH-stabilized foam also shows good stability under high temperatures and in the presence of oil. Sandpack flooding experiments showed that the SDS/AlOOH foam can increase and maintain the differential pressure more effectively than the SDS foam. This study provides additional options for using nanoparticles to stabilize foams for enhanced oil recovery.

Thermal Stability of Gel Foams Stabilized by Xanthan Gum, Silica Nanoparticles and Surfactants

“…In addition, the DST curve gradually decreases, indicating that the surface activity gradually increases as the XG concentration increases. The EST value of XG-0# is 20.041 mN/m, which is between the EST of individual FS-50 solution at cmc (13.89 mN/m [ 28 ]) and the EST of individual SDS solution at cmc (34.43 mN/m [ 30 ]). The results indicate that SDS and FS-50 molecules coexist at the gas–liquid interface.…”

“…[ 27 , 28 ]. However, the previous studies were mainly focused on individual surfactants and their mixtures with nanoparticles or water-soluble polymers [ 17 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The addition of polymers and nanoparticles to a surfactant system can further help to improve the foam stability [ 32 ].…”

Giant surfactant-stabilized N2-foam for enhanced oil recovery after water flooding

“…7c and f, the spherical APOSS-PS 50 /AOS foam compared with the polygonal HPAM/AOS foam was more uniform and smaller, suggesting its more stable structure. 41,42 Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8, the minimum liquid fractions (the calculation shown in the ESI †) in the APOSS-PS 50 /AOS, HPAM/AOS and AOS foam were 3.78%, 1.45% and 0.24%, respectively.…”

“…Moreover, in the subsequent water ooding process, the DP descent rate for the APOSS-PS 50 / AOS system was obviously smaller than that of HPAM/AOS, indicating the stronger foam stabilizing ability of APOSS-PS 50 . 41 In general, the stabilizer APOSS-PS 50 , with good viscosifying and reinforcing ability as well as high surface activity, enhanced the foam stability and viscoelasticity, and thus resulted in the outstanding plugging, prole-control and oil displacement ability of the foam.…”

Preparation and Investigation of Foaming Amphiphilic Fluorinated Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oil Recovery

“…Aqueous foams are of great practical interest because of their extensive applications, which range from cosmetics and food, to fire extinguishing, mineral flotation processing, and oil recovery [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The application of foam in oil recovery faces some technical and economic challenges, for instance, it is a source of gas, with high cost, and the surfactant absorbs on the rock; the biggest problem is the stability of foam fluid [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Foam instability, which is derived from liquid drainage, disproportionation and coalescence in films, is a critical issue in all these applications.…”