Injection of Nanofluids with Fluorosurfactant-Modified Nanoparticles Dispersed in a Flue Gas Stream at Very Low Concentration for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in Tight Gas–Condensate Reservoirs

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of nanofluids formed by surface-modified nanoparticles with a fluorosurfactant dispersed in a flue gas stream at low concentrations as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process applied to a tight gas−condensate reservoirs (TGCR). This research is a continuation of our previous study (doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b22383) in which nanoparticles of γ-Al 2 O 3 and MgO modified with a short-chain fluorinated anionic surfactant (SY) at 30% by weight were developed. Here, the nanomaterials were used for preparing nanofluids (NF) at different concentrations to improve the mobility of the liquids in TGCR. Contact angle tests under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions were performed from 5 to 276 bar and at a constant temperature of 80 °C through the sessile drop technique to select the best nanofluid that generates a gaswettability for EOR operations. Interfacial tension (IFT) measurements at high pressure (276 bar) and high temperature (80 °C) were also conducted to determine the selectivity of nanofluids to locate at the rock−fluid interface. The nanoparticles with superior performance were further evaluated through coreflooding tests at reservoir conditions of overburden pressure of 448 bar, pore pressure of 276 bar, and a temperature of 80 °C in a tight sandstone outcrop. The best results found for the contact angle and IFT at HPHT were obtained for the nanofluid of γ-alumina nanoparticles functionalized with fluorosurfactant at 30% by weight (AlSY30) dispersed in water at a concentration of 300 mg•L −1 (AlSY30-NF). The contact angle results obtained at reservoir conditions at 276 bar and 80 °C were 122 ± 2°and 119 ± 1°for water and oil, respectively. Also, IFT tests showed the preference of these nanofluids to be located at the rock−fluid interface and thus generate greater performance from the injected treatments to modify the rock wettability. These results are supported by a more than 95% increase in the energy binding to the oil/brine (ΔE) interface of AlSY30 nanoparticles than MgSY30 nanoparticles. A novel coreflooding test was performed by dispersing the nanofluid at different concentrations (from 0 to 300 mg•L −1 ) in a flue gas stream. A low concentration of 10 mg•L −1 resulted in a residual oil saturation (Sor) reduction of 57% and an increase in oil recovery of approximately 23% relative to the flue gas in the absence of nanofluid. A synergistic effect between a wettability alteration and a decrease in IFT occurred due to nanofluid dispersal in the flue gas stream. The results obtained in this study are expected to promote innovative and efficient technology for dispersed nanofluid injection as a recovery method in tightly condensed gas fields with excellent performance at low concentrations.

Field Applications of Nanotechnology in the Oil and Gas Industry: Recent Advances and Perspectives

“…These applications are good examples of the potential of nanoparticle-assisted gas injection and allow further nanotechnology-based developments and implementations not only by huff-n-puff injections but also in disperse chemical injection scenarios , under IOR and EOR conditions.…”

“…In this sense, nanotechnology can provide green and cost-effective solutions that help accomplish this purpose through enhanced carbon capture, utilization, and storage under both surface and subsurface conditions. , For example, nanoparticles can enhance the selectivity of the porous medium to CO 2 , avoiding the need of surface separation CO 2 separation from flue gas, which is one of the main sources of cost increases when storage processes are conducted. Another suitable option worthy of implementation under field-scale conditions is the inclusion of double purpose technologies for simultaneous EOR and CO 2 storage, with many efforts made from the enhancement of CO 2 -based foams with nanoparticles, , injection of dispersed nanofluids in a flue gas stream, as well as carbonate water injection in the presence of nanoparticles. − Although these technologies look promising, different challenges arise, such as the CO 2 or flue gas capture transport to the reservoirs in a cost-effective way, as well as the robust injection systems needed here.…”

Virtual Special Issue of the 21st International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling (PetroPhase2020)

“…Yonebayashi et al 45 report the uneven distribution of asphaltene deposits in CO 2 flooding paths, with interpretation by combining thermodynamic and micro computed tomography (micro-CT) three-dimensional (3D) geological porous models. Franco, Corteś, and co-authors 46 report a study on the injection of nanofluids with fluorosurfactant-modified nano- particles dispersed in a flue gas stream for EOR in tight gas− condensate reservoirs. Wang et al 47 present a study on the adsorption of CO 2 in an organic-rich shale, and new insights were obtained by elucidating the unusual adsorption behaviors observed.…”

Selective Fabrication of Robust and Multifunctional Super Nonwetting Surfaces by Diverse Modifications of Zirconia–Ceria Nanocomposites

“…The chemical treatment method is a certain approach to mitigate the blockage and enhance gas recovery. Many scientists, continuing the way of Li and Firoozabadi, , have attempted to improve the amphiphobicity of the reservoir rocks by applying different fluoro-containing polymers/surfactants/nanoparticles. − However, modifying the wettability of reservoir rocks to achieve the superamphiphobic condition with the rolling-off behavior of oil has yet to be totally reached. Similarly, mitigating oil blockage in the vicinity of the oil reservoir fields’ gas cap to improve oil recovery while preventing water production is an ongoing area of research that will be attained by changing the reservoir rocks’ wettability to the superoleophobic–superhydrophilic state by means of high-impact chemicals such as engineered nanofluids.…”