Study on application of colloidal particles of metal oxides to increase the oil recovery factor

Abstract

The extraction of heavy oil, including bitumen, is complicated by the extremely high viscosity of the fluid in the reservoir. The adsorption of heavy oil fractions on the surface of minerals leads to the hydrophobization of the pore space. The magnetic colloidal particles of iron oxides present in the composition of the water remove adsorbed oil from the surface of pores, which manifests itself as an increase in the oil recovery factor and the injectivity of injection wells. Iron particles of submicron size, located on the surface of an electrically charged gas bubble, are concentrated at the water-oil interface. Due to the high adsorption energy on the surface of the iron particle, oil is deposited on the iron oxide particles. The drop-in bottom pressure of injection and production wells contributes to the movement of the gas bubble with oil and iron oxides to the bottom of production wells. The study of the mechanism of exposure to electromagnetic radiation showed that the electromagnetic field selectively heats the particles of iron oxide, causing catalytic cracking of oil, and contributes to an increase in the oil recovery factor and well productivity index.