Synthesis and Evaluation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle and its Application in Chemical Enhanced oil Recovery

Abstract

A significant quantity of hydrocarbons remains in the reservoir after production using primary and secondary techniques. Traditional recovery techniques produce about 33 % of the original oil in place. However, the utilization of chemicals such as surfactants and polymers facilitate the additional recovery of one‐third of this oil. Researchers are currently aiming at mixing surfactant and nanoparticles for their potential applications in petroleum industry. In this work, authors claimed to be the first to study usage of synthesized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) with Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) surfactant to understand its applicability in Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery through evaluation of the surface tension & Interfacial tension, surfactant adsorption, contact angle, and core flooding experiments. Surface tension studies revealed a synergistic interaction between MSN and anionic surfactant molecules. With the introduction of 2500 ppm of anionic surfactant, the surface tension of deionized water reduces to 34.5 mN/m from 72.4 mN/m. The surface tension of the mixture was further lowered by ∼9.8 % with the addition of 300 ppm MSN. The Interfacial Tension results also showed the same trend. When 300 ppm of MSN was introduced, then IFT values decreases from 8.13 mN/m to 3.91 mN/m at 2500 ppm of anionic surfactant. Contact angle measurements after MSN injection went from 77.98° for SDS (2500 ppm) to 73.36°, 66.54°, and 41.95° for 100, 200, and 300 ppm of MSN, respectively. This demonstrates that the shift toward water‐wet behavior increased along with the MSN concentration. Additionally, adding 300 ppm of MSN lowered surfactant adsorption by ∼80 % at a surfactant concentration of 2500 ppm. Up to 72.27 % of the OOIP could be recovered using the chemical slug made of SDS surfactant, polymer, and MSN. The research data suggests that the MSN can increase the effectiveness of the chemical injection approach, which can be used to recover more oil.

Emulsions synergistic-stabilized by a hydroxyl sulfobetaine surfactant and SiO2 nanoparticles and their potential application for enhanced oil recovery

“…When surfactants are adsorbed on the surface of the nanoparticles, the electrostatic repulsion between the particles is weakened, and the absolute value of the zeta potential decreases. 35,36 The reason is that there are only three carbon atoms between the positive and negative charges in the LHSB head group, which cannot form a ring structure to achieve mutual neutralization. 37 Therefore, LHSB molecules can adsorb negatively charged SiO 2 nanoparticles to a certain extent through the positively charged quaternary ammonium group in the head group.…”

Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery from Carbonate Reservoirs by Coherent Surfactant and Surfactant–Alkali (SA) Slug Injection Using a Green Cationic Surfactant Synthesized from Avocado Oil

“…1,2 Surfactants are often used in combination with varied polymers, alkalis, and even nanoparticles. 3,4 In practice, the use of surfactants is effective when water and oil with high interfacial tensions and immiscibility are converted to nearmiscible fluids. Miscible fluids have no interfacial tension.…”

“…Surfactants are types of compounds that exhibit amphiphilic properties, enabling them to enhance the miscibility of water and oil. They achieve this by creating a thin layer at the interface between water and oil, effectively reducing the interfacial tension between the two substances. , Surfactants are often used in combination with varied polymers, alkalis, and even nanoparticles. , In practice, the use of surfactants is effective when water and oil with high interfacial tensions and immiscibility are converted to near-miscible fluids. Miscible fluids have no interfacial tension.…”