Laboratory Investigation on Permeability Change and Economic Analysis Using Some Selected Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oil Recovery

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Enhanced oil recovery using nanoparticles is an emerging technique that can potentially alter permeability and wettability of porous media for improved oil mobilization. This study experimentally investigates the permeability alteration caused by three commonly used nanoparticle types – copper (ii) oxide, zinc oxide and silicon oxide. Core flooding experiments were conducted on reservoir rock samples before and after treatment with nanoparticle dispersions. Results show decrease in permeability by 35% for copper (ii) oxide, 30% for zinc oxide and 10% silicon oxide respectively. Pore-scale analysis indicates that permeability change occurs through mechanisms like pore throat blocking/wettability alteration. Nanoparticle concentration is also found to influence the permeability variation, with optimal dosage. Among the systems tested, Silicon oxide is the most effective formulation for enhancing oil recovery applications based on its ability to recover oil with minimal alteration to formation permeability. From the result, Silicon oxide had a cumulative recovery of 17ml, 18.0ml and 18.5ml thereby generating a percentage recovery of 73.91%, 78.26% and 80.43% while Zinc oxide had a cumulative recovery of 15.5ml, 18.0ml and 16.5ml thereby generating a percentage recovery of 77.50%, 78.26% and 71.74ml%, lastly Copper (ii) oxide had a cumulative recovery of 16.5ml, 17.0 and 16.0 generating a percentage recovery of 75%, 73.91% and 72.72% respectively with a concentration of 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%. This study demonstrates the potential of Silicon oxide nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery through permeability manipulation in porous media, however, the economic analysis shows that it’s quite expensive due to its cost of production and won’t be ideal for use. Hence Zinc oxide which also has a high volume of oil recovery, and less production cost can be used.