Pore-scale simulation of wettability and interfacial tension effects on flooding process for enhanced oil recovery

Zhao, Jin; Wen, Dongsheng

doi:10.1039/c7ra07325a

Cited by 41 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…(3) Changing the oil–water interface properties. The widely employed surfactant flooding relies on injecting surfactant slug in order to reduce the interfacial tension between the oil and water. − Similarly, the adsorption of appropriate types and concentrations of nanoparticles at the oil–water interface might also decrease the interfacial tension as mention above. This, in turn, would decline the fluid capillary force and mobilize residual oil. ,,, Stable oil–water emulsion with low interfacial tension has successfully been extracted, ultimately improving the oil recovery. − On the other hand, nanoparticles might assist surfactant flooding to diminish high loss of surfactants caused by surfactant adsorption on rock surfaces before reaching the trapped oil. ,− Surfactant molecules are attached to rocks through various intermolecular forces, such as electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, or even covalent bonding .…”

Section: Research Progress and Development Prospect Of Nanofluid Floo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of Nanofluids and Their Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Comprehensive Review

Sun

Yang

Shi³

et al. 2020

Energy Fuels

100

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Nanofluids are stable mixtures of nanoscale particles dispersed in base fluids with good prospects in enhanced oil recovery in the petroleum industry. In this review, the mechanisms and evaluation methods of stable nanofluids were analyzed. The effects of nanoparticles on viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface/interfacial tension of base fluids were discussed. The results of laboratory research and field tests revealed that nanofluids could improve the oil recovery through plugging and profile control, transformation of wettability of rock surface, changes in oil−water interface properties, and increases in the viscosity ratio between fluids. On the other hand, nanoparticles might stabilize oil−water emulsions produced during the extraction stage, adversely affecting subsequent oil−water separation processes, especially the electrical dehydration. However, careful analysis suggested lack of in-depth studies regarding the impacts of nanoparticles on droplet coalescence inside electro-dehydration plants. The present analyses will hopefully assist future investigations in nanofluidics.

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Section: Research Progress and Development Prospect Of Nanofluid Floo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of Nanofluids and Their Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Comprehensive Review

Sun

Yang

Shi³

et al. 2020

Energy Fuels

100

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“…A mixture of surfactants and NPs, depending on the surface charges and the formation type, may cause wettability alteration, IFT reduction, and a decrease in capillary forces . This combination of effects was confirmed by simulation work to be the ideal case for EOR . Silica NPs were extensively studied to enhance the oil recovery through surfactant flooding.…”

Section: Nanosurfactant Floodingmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…102 This combination of effects was confirmed by simulation work to be the ideal case for EOR. 103 Silica NPs were extensively studied to enhance the oil recovery through surfactant flooding. In a five-spot glass micromodel, the effect of silica nanoparticles was assessed with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant.…”

Section: Nanopolymer Floodingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Nanotechnology on Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Mini-Review

Rezk

Allam

2019

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

150

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The major challenges facing oil production during/after secondary recovery include oil entrapment by water and high water mobility. Hence, currently, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is considered a key solution for increasing oil production upon reaching the tertiary production phase. Unfortunately, EOR still has its drawbacks including the degradation of the chemicals (polymers and surfactants) used under reservoir conditions, large required volumes of chemicals, and their high cost. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that has profoundly changed the course of different applications in various fields. In petroleum engineering, this modification can be attributed to the nanomaterials' unique properties including high surfaceto-volume ratio, wettability control, and interfacial tension reduction. To this end, the use of nanomaterials to enhance oil recovery is a very attractive, yet challenging task. This mini-review focuses on the recent efforts to explore the effects of various nanomaterial additives on the EOR process as well as the proposed mechanisms.

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“…× ln (1.8T + 32) ig. 13 Final phase distribution at different wettability conditions (Zhao and Wen 2017) where µ and T represent crude oil viscosity in cP and temperature in °C, respectively. In Fig.…”

Section: Sc-co2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of CFD technique to simulate enhanced oil recovery processes: current status and future opportunities

et al. 2019

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Nowadays, because of the reduction in oil resources and the passage of the first and second life period of current reservoirs, using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods is of great importance. In recent years, due to the developments in technology and the advent of powerful computers, using simulation methods in enhanced oil recovery processes is on the rise. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, as a branch of fluid mechanics, is a suitable method for studying and simulating EOR methods. In this study, a review was done on the application of CFD studies for simulating EOR methods. Also, potentials for future studies and the challenges researchers may face in this method were mentioned. Although using this method in enhanced oil recovery processes has recently started, different areas for more studies still exist. To optimize the usage of this method in future studies, the necessity of multiphase models and solution methods development, as well as considering all microscopic parameters such as interfacial tension and viscosity in investigating oil recovery factor is of great importance.

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Pore-scale simulation of wettability and interfacial tension effects on flooding process for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract: The effects of wettability and interfacial tension on the flooding process were simulated numerically at the pore-scale, which could explain nanofluid, surfactant and their hybrids flooding mechanisms, yielding insights into enhanced oil recovery.

Cited by 41 publications

References 25 publications

Properties of Nanofluids and Their Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Comprehensive Review

Properties of Nanofluids and Their Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Comprehensive Review

Impact of Nanotechnology on Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Mini-Review

Application of CFD technique to simulate enhanced oil recovery processes: current status and future opportunities

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