Abstract
During the past half-century, the prefix “nano” attached to several words, such as “technology”, “motors”, “device”, and so on has denoted cutting-edge research fields and topics at the forefront of classical scientific disciplines. Possible application fields have been frequently evoked, even if real-life examples are still difficult to find. The present review analyzes how nanotechnology is utilized in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes so as to increase the efficiency of mature oilfields. Nanotechnology in EOR is classified into three categories: nanoparticles/nanofluids, nanoemulsions, and nanocatalysts. The advantages at the nanoscale are also described and discussed, including an overview of manufacturing methods as well as the concerns about their possible environmental impacts. Clearly, nanotechnology has the potential to boost EOR techniques, although there are still many questions and drawbacks to be tackled.
Highlights
It is undeniable that oil has radically changed how we live and how our economy works in a way that no kind of fuel in the past has ever done
There are three main nanotechnologically-enhanced processes in Enhanced oil recovery (EOR): (a) the addition of nanoparticles in the displacing agent enhancing its rheological properties, which are known as nanofluids; (b) the use of nanoparticles as stabilizing agents in the formation of nanoemulsions; and (c) active nanoparticles working as nanocatalysts injected in order to perform in-situ upgrading operations in the porous medium before extraction
The results showed a high content of precipitated asphaltenes in the nanoclay matrix, implying that asphaltenes were adsorbed by the nanoclays (Figure 33)
Summary
It is undeniable that oil has radically changed how we live and how our economy works in a way that no kind of fuel in the past has ever done. A fluid (i.e., water or an immiscible gas) is injected in order to displace the oil to producing wells These two recovery stages can account for 50/55% of the initial oil in place (IOIP). There are three main nanotechnologically-enhanced processes in EOR: (a) the addition of nanoparticles in the displacing agent enhancing its rheological properties, which are known as nanofluids; (b) the use of nanoparticles as stabilizing agents in the formation of nanoemulsions; and (c) active nanoparticles working as nanocatalysts injected in order to perform in-situ upgrading operations in the porous medium before extraction. Nanofluids, mainly consisting of nano-sized colloidal dispersions, have successfully been developed in laboratories, and the upcoming challenge is to develop techniques for cost-efficient industrial-scale production techniques [32] They can be designed to be compatible with reservoir fluids/rocks and be environmentally friendly [16]. Nanocatalysts for in-situ upgrading of heavy oil, what some authors have defined as an “underground refinery” [35,36,37], constitute a novel approach to dealing with these systems
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