Silica, Fly Ash and Magnetite Nanoparticles for Improved Oil and Gas Production

Abstract

With design surface functionalization, nanoparticles can provide unique benefits for improved oil and gas production. Some applications recently developed at our laboratories are briefly reviewed. One example is the use of silica nanoparticles as foam stabilizers. Ultra-dry but stable CO 2 foams can be generated for CO 2 EOR mobility control and also as "waterless" fracturing fluids for unconventional reservoir development. Another innovative way of generating similar CO 2 foam is to use nano-milled fly ash as stabilizer. Fly ash being a waste product, the technique has the benefit of sequestering both CO 2 and fly ash. Magnetite nanoparticles are widely employed in medical and other industries because, with external magnetic field application, they can be detected remotely; selectively collected; or generate intense, localized heat. One example application is the removal of left-over chemicals from EOR processes, from oilfield produced water. Attached to nanoparticles, the chemicals can be collected and removed by magnetic separation.

Retention of Surfactant by Solid–Liquid Interaction and the Process of Improving Oil Recovery by Inducing Hydrophilic Particles

“…The recent implementation of nanoparticles for recovery of oil is emerging as a cutting-edge technology. ,,− However, the success of nanotechnology for EOR on commercial platforms is still a challenging issue, which is usually due to several complex parameters like size, shape, nature of group, surface properties, stability, and many more. ,,, Thus, considering the boundaries, an attempt was made to investigate the influence of SiO 2 hydrophilic nanoparticles during surfactant flooding for higher oil recovery for our current reservoir system.…”