Investigating the Potential of CO2 Nanobubble Systems for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Extra-Low-Permeability Reservoirs

Abstract

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) stands as one of the effective means to reduce carbon emissions and serves as a crucial technical pillar for achieving experimental carbon neutrality. CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) represents the foremost method for CO2 utilization. CO2-EOR represents a favorable technical means of efficiently developing extra-low-permeability reservoirs. Nevertheless, the process known as the direct injection of CO2 is highly susceptible to gas scrambling, which reduces the exposure time and contact area between CO2 and the extra-low-permeability oil matrix, making it challenging to utilize CO2 molecular diffusion effectively. In this paper, a comprehensive study involving the application of a CO2 nanobubble system in extra-low-permeability reservoirs is presented. A modified nano-SiO2 particle with pro-CO2 properties was designed using the Pickering emulsion template method and employed as a CO2 nanobubble stabilizer. The suitability of the CO2 nanobubbles for use in extra-low-permeability reservoirs was evaluated in terms of their temperature resistance, oil resistance, dimensional stability, interfacial properties, and wetting-reversal properties. The enhanced oil recovery (EOR) effect of the CO2 nanobubble system was evaluated through core experiments. The results indicate that the CO2 nanobubble system can suppress the phenomena of channeling and gravity overlap in the formation. Additionally, the system can alter the wettability, thereby improving interfacial activity. Furthermore, the system can reduce the interfacial tension, thus expanding the wave efficiency of the repellent phase fluids. The system can also improve the ability of CO2 to displace the crude oil or water in the pore space. The CO2 nanobubble system can take advantage of its size and high mass transfer efficiency, among other advantages. Injection of the gas into the extra-low-permeability reservoir can be used to block high-gas-capacity channels. The injected gas is forced to enter the low-permeability layer or matrix, with the results of core simulation experiments indicating a recovery rate of 66.28%. Nanobubble technology, the subject of this paper, has significant practical implications for enhancing the efficiency of CO2-EOR and geologic sequestration, as well as providing an environmentally friendly method as part of larger CCUS-EOR.