Application of Nanotechnology in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

The application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry has received great attention in the past decade due to the cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner. Nanotechnology has a significant impact on the development of upstream and downstream industry, comprising exploration, drilling, tertiary production, and refinery processes. It provides a wide range of alternatives for technologies and materials to be applied in the petroleum industry. The production efficiency is mainly governed by the mechanism of pressure maintenance. However, the injected fluids in the tertiary stage or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process interact with the oil/reservoir rock system. However, some challenges, such as low sweep efficiency, high costs and potential formation damage, still hinder the application of EOR methods. Current nanoparticles studies have shown the potential solutions to most of the challenges associated with EOR methods. This chapter provides the application of nanoparticles and technology in the oil and gas industry, and emphases are given to EOR application. Characterization of hydrocarbon fluid and reservoir rock before any potential EOR operation is discussed. Different types of nanomaterials (i.e., silica, aluminum oxides, iron oxide, nickel oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, polymers, and carbon nanotubes) that have been used in EOR are discussed with respect to their properties, performance, advantages, and disadvantages. The mechanisms of nanoparticles in EOR processes are then highlighted, such as wettability alteration, interfacial tension reduction, disjoining pressure, and viscosity control. Then various parameters that have an impact on the performance of nanoparticles on EOR, and strategies for promising recovery factors are emphasized. Finally, this chapter presents a wide range of knowledge and expertise related to the nanotechnology application in the EOR process in particular. The challenges and opportunities for future research directions for nanoparticles in EOR applications are identified.KeywordsNanotechnologyNanoparticlesEnhanced oil recoveryWettability alterationInterfacial tension reduction