Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Nanoparticle-Assisted Enhanced Oil Recovery—A Review

Abstract

In the last two decades, nanotechnology has flourished due to its vast number of applications in many fields such as drug delivery, oil and gas, and thermal applications, like cooling and air-conditioning. This study focuses on the applications of nanoparticles/nanofluids in the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process to increase oil recovery efficiency. To understand the nanoparticle-assisted EOR process, the first step is to understand the flow characteristics of nanoparticles in porous media, including entrapment and release in the pores and the behavior of nanoparticles under high temperatures, pressures, and salinity levels and in the presence of external electric and magnetic fields. Also, the process looks at the roles of various pore distributions during their application as EOR agents. The experimental approaches are not only time consuming, but they are also cumbersome and expensive. Hence, the mathematical models could help to facilitate the understanding of the transport and interaction of nanofluids in a reservoir and how such processes can be optimized to get maximum oil recovery and, in turn, reduce the production cost. This paper reviews and critically analyzes the latest developments in mathematical modeling and simulation techniques that have been reported for nanofluid-assisted EOR. One section is dedicated to discussing the challenges ahead, as well as the research gaps in the modeling approach to help the readers to also contribute to further enlightening the modeling nanofluid-assisted EOR process.

Is Barocaloric an Eco-Friendly Technology? A TEWI Comparison with Vapor Compression under Different Operation Modes

“…To enlarge the spectrum of the investigation, we decided to evaluate the environmental impact of barocaloric technology while the system mounts advanced HTF: The nanofluids [39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. Specifically, we tested variable concentrations of Al 2 O 3 -water nanofluids and of Cu-50%EG/50%W nanofluids, respectively, for heat-pumping and for cooling usages.…”

Refrigeration Systems and Applications

“…The number of hidden neurons can be identified by employing a trial-and-error procedure [57,58] or using some empirical rules, as reported in [59]. There is no specific process to evaluate the optimal number of hidden neurons, but it must be identified case by case.…”

Determination of Optimum Frequency for Electromagnetic-Assisted Nanofluid Core Flooding

“…Therefore, EM waves behave differently at different interfaces within the reservoir [5,6]. The propagating EM wave exerts forces on the molecules, which then align in a direction parallel to the external EM field [7][8][9]. Application of electromagnetic (EM) waves of certain frequency ranges has been used in nanofluid core flooding experiments for stimulating the recovery of residual oil after water flooding [10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…Application of electromagnetic (EM) waves of certain frequency ranges has been used in nanofluid core flooding experiments for stimulating the recovery of residual oil after water flooding [10][11][12][13][14]. The potential efficiency of this method has been demonstrated by several experimental and numerical studies [8,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Different recovery mechanisms other than the common EM heating method have been reported recently.…”