In situ micro-emulsification during surfactant enhanced oil recovery: A microfluidic study

Zhao, Xiaowen; Zhan, Fuxing; Liao, Guangzhi; Liu, Weidong; Su, Xin; Feng, Yujun

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.04.045

Cited by 41 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Было получено два типа эмульсий -«масло в воде» (прямая) и «вода в масле» (обратная), а также выявлен движущий ме ханизм их образования. Авторы продол жили работу [42] Хотя все вышеуказанные тесты проводились с глинистыми включениями, закачка низкоминерализованной воды может быть эффективной и при их отсут ствии, предполагая пренебрежение такими механизмами, как набухание глины, миг рация мелких частиц, ионный обмен. Основными механизмами, наблюдаемыми на стек лянных микромоделях были обра зование микродисперсий, ремоби лиза ция нефти [46], уменьшение электро ста ти ческих сил притяжения [47], более высо кий коэф фициент диффузии моле кул воды, изменение смачиваемости [47].…”

Section: Review Articlesunclassified

Application of microfluidics to optimize oil and gas field development technologies

Pereponov

Scerbacova

Kazaku

et al. 2023

Kazakhstan journal for oil & gas industry

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To increase the oil recovery factor (RF), enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are applied: chemical, gas, thermal, and combined ones. Standard laboratory research methods for selecting and optimizing EOR technologies require a lot of time and resources, as well as core material, which is often in short supply. To optimize the selection of reagents and field development technologies, the use of microfluidic technology is proposed i.e. conducting experiments in reservoir conditions using microfluidic chips with a porous structure, reproducing the properties of the core of the target field. The main advantages of conducting tests in micromodels are the low duration and the ability to visualize filtration processes, which makes it possible to evaluate the behavior of fluids in reservoir conditions. This paper considers the modern application of microfluidics for the selection of EOR agents and stimulation methods and the status of this technology in the oil and gas industry. The use of microfluidic chips for screening surfactants and polymers, as well as studying the mechanism of low-mineralized water action is described. Conducting microfluidic tests to optimize gas and thermal EOR, which became possible due to the development and improvement of technology, is considered.

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Section: Review Articlesunclassified

Application of microfluidics to optimize oil and gas field development technologies

Pereponov

Scerbacova

Kazaku

et al. 2023

Kazakhstan journal for oil & gas industry

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“…Microfluidic devices are an efficient alternative for flooding tests, providing a significant reduction in both material and time required for experimentation compared to conventional laboratory tests, which can take days . Microfluidic devices also provide valuable insights into fluid distribution within the matrix before and after flooding, surfactant retention, microemulsion production, and pore blockages . As a result of these features, microfluidic devices are a cost-effective alternative to selecting a treatment before they are used in the oilfield.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…31 Microfluidic devices also provide valuable insights into fluid distribution within the matrix before and after flooding, surfactant retention, microemulsion production, and pore blockages. 32 As a result of these features, microfluidic devices are a cost-effective alternative to selecting a treatment before they are used in the oilfield. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to visually observe the influence of grain size, pore throats, and fractures on EOR mechanisms through traditional core flooding experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic Investigation of Surfactant-Assisted Functional Silica Nanofluids in Low-Salinity Seawater for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Reservoir-on-a-Chip

2023

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Microfluidics is a promising approach for investigating processes at the pore scale of rocks, such as oil recovery, due to their similar size range. Unlike conventional core flooding and Amott cell techniques, microfluidics offers advantages such as easy cleaning, reusing porous network chips, and the ability to track the process visually. In this study, a stable nanofluid (NF3) was prepared utilizing the synergistic effect of oppositely charged Ludox CL silica nanoparticles (positive charge) and anionic surfactant (Aerosol-OT) in 5000 ppm seawater. A microfluidic chip was used to assess the pore-scale oil displacement using different nanofluids. We visually investigated the efficacy of oil displacement from the chip, the interactions between pore grain−oilnanofluids, and the wettability alteration of the pore grain surface. The results show that the interfacial tension (IFT) between the crude oil and the NF3 nanofluid showed a significant reduction in IFT by 49.3% compared to crude oil−seawater. The surfactant reduces the IFT between the crude oil and the nanofluid (thinning of the interfacial film), resulting in elongation of oil globules, and improves oil recovery. Furthermore, a thin layer of nanofluid film was observed between the pore grain surface and the fluid phase, visible as black curves, which might be the reason for the wettability alteration of the grain surface from oil-wet to water-wet, enhancing oil recovery. The cumulative oil displacement from the chip due to the NF3 nanofluid yielded the highest oil displacement efficiency of 88.85% of the original oil-in-place among all the injection fluids. In situ emulsification was observed in the pores of microfluidics due to the injection of the NF3 nanofluid, where the velocity gradient between the residual oil and the injected nanofluid causes some residual oil to be carried away as an emulsion, enhancing oil recovery. This study provides insights into the nanofluid, which can aid in IFT reduction, wettability alteration, better stability, and in situ emulsification, ultimately improving oil displacement through a porous medium.

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“…Chemical flooding is one of the main methods of enhancing oil recovery in China. 3 Some of these methods include polymer flooding, 4,5 surfactant flooding, 6,7 alkali flooding, 8 and poly-surface binary flooding. 9,10 Polymer flooding can improve oil-water mobility by increasing the viscosity of the displacement phase and increasing the wave efficiency to enhance oil recovery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis and characterization of a novel active polymer for enhanced oil recovery

Chen

Zhang

Wang

et al. 2023

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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A new type of quaternary ammonium surface‐active polymer for enhanced oil‐recovery application was synthesized through the free‐radical polymerization of a functional monomer (DMCA) with acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) and denoted as AM/AMPS/DMCA. The optimum polymerization conditions of AM/AMPS/DMCA were explored, and its chemical structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The molecular weight of AM/AMPS/DMCA was determined by gel‐permeation chromatography. Its thickening ability, oil–water interfacial tension, and emulsifying property were investigated. Results showed that AM/AMPS/DMCA had superior thickening ability and lower interfacial tension than the binary polymer AM/AMPS, as well as good emulsifying properties. AM/AMPS/DMCA also yielded 26.00% oil recovery, higher than the 20.57% of AM/AMPS, as determined using polymer‐flooding tests. The oil‐displacement mechanisms of this surface‐active polymer at pore level were also explored. Analysis of microscopic displacement characteristics through a visual micromodel revealed that AM/AMPS/DMCA solution improved sweep efficiency and reduced residual‐oil saturation due to its bulk viscosity and surface activation. All these findings indicated the excellent potential of AM/AMPS/DMCA in oil displacement.

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In situ micro-emulsification during surfactant enhanced oil recovery: A microfluidic study

Cited by 41 publications

References 38 publications

Application of microfluidics to optimize oil and gas field development technologies

Application of microfluidics to optimize oil and gas field development technologies

Microfluidic Investigation of Surfactant-Assisted Functional Silica Nanofluids in Low-Salinity Seawater for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Reservoir-on-a-Chip

Synthesis and characterization of a novel active polymer for enhanced oil recovery

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