Interaction of Heavy Crude Oil and Nanoparticles …
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1.1 Need of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, in its entirety, focuses on using a minimal amount of resources
to process large-scale operations. The reduction of the size of the particles itself
is a profound way to utilize any material efficiently. The use of a few micrograms
can do the same work that a few grams could do. This is a way to employ the
conservation of resources sustainably. Everyday industrial processes generate a lot
of unused substances. Nanomaterials, due to their dimensional advantages, minimize
their specific amount required for any application which adds an edge to the whole
operation regarding resource handling and usage. These properties make the use of
nanoparticles an efficient way to achieve a stable groundwork between sustainability
and effectiveness.
Nanotechnology and its facets have also shown potential in improving the effluent
suppression and gas capture processes. Successful mitigation of greenhouse gases
has been achieved in small scale processes involving nanomaterials. Materials such
as nanoclay have been identified as a well-known and cheap alternative for CO 2 capture and have been an interesting area of research (Roth et al. 2013). In oil recovery,
techniques such as CO 2 flooding using CO 2 foam have also been observed to provide better results with the addition of nanoparticles and improved sequestration of
CO 2 (Aminzadeh-Goharrizi et al. 2012). Numerous applications can be found where
nanomaterials are proven to be better alternatives in tackling these problems. A wide
array of properties makes them versatile for some processes requiring high efficacy in energy production. This potential of nanomaterials makes them an attractive
candidate in assisting environmental issues with smart solutions.
2 Properties of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Oils
Crude oil is a naturally occurring mixture of different fractions of carbon compounds.
These fractions can be classified into groups of Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and
Asphaltenes (SARA) (Fig. 1). These together make the structure of oil and give it its
various properties. The viscosity of oil is a vital property that affects its mobility in
reservoirs. In the case of heavy and extra-heavy oils, viscosities up to 10,000 cp and
higher have been observed. Tar sands being practically solid in nature pose extreme
difficulty in extraction. The heavy oil which sits at the bottom of the reservoir creates a
challenge as it is very difficult to displace. Owing to the depletion of lighter fractions,
the processing of these heavier fractions has become important to sustain the fuel
requirements. But what makes this a difficult task is the fact that the heavy and extraheavy oils are unsusceptible to primary and secondary recovery treatments. Oils
are characterized by their API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity. API gravity
gives a comparison with respect to water of how heavy or light the oil is. Medium
and heavy oils usually range from 25 to 15° API in comparison with light crudes
233
1.1 Need of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, in its entirety, focuses on using a minimal amount of resources
to process large-scale operations. The reduction of the size of the particles itself
is a profound way to utilize any material efficiently. The use of a few micrograms
can do the same work that a few grams could do. This is a way to employ the
conservation of resources sustainably. Everyday industrial processes generate a lot
of unused substances. Nanomaterials, due to their dimensional advantages, minimize
their specific amount required for any application which adds an edge to the whole
operation regarding resource handling and usage. These properties make the use of
nanoparticles an efficient way to achieve a stable groundwork between sustainability
and effectiveness.
Nanotechnology and its facets have also shown potential in improving the effluent
suppression and gas capture processes. Successful mitigation of greenhouse gases
has been achieved in small scale processes involving nanomaterials. Materials such
as nanoclay have been identified as a well-known and cheap alternative for CO 2 capture and have been an interesting area of research (Roth et al. 2013). In oil recovery,
techniques such as CO 2 flooding using CO 2 foam have also been observed to provide better results with the addition of nanoparticles and improved sequestration of
CO 2 (Aminzadeh-Goharrizi et al. 2012). Numerous applications can be found where
nanomaterials are proven to be better alternatives in tackling these problems. A wide
array of properties makes them versatile for some processes requiring high efficacy in energy production. This potential of nanomaterials makes them an attractive
candidate in assisting environmental issues with smart solutions.
2 Properties of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Oils
Crude oil is a naturally occurring mixture of different fractions of carbon compounds.
These fractions can be classified into groups of Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and
Asphaltenes (SARA) (Fig. 1). These together make the structure of oil and give it its
various properties. The viscosity of oil is a vital property that affects its mobility in
reservoirs. In the case of heavy and extra-heavy oils, viscosities up to 10,000 cp and
higher have been observed. Tar sands being practically solid in nature pose extreme
difficulty in extraction. The heavy oil which sits at the bottom of the reservoir creates a
challenge as it is very difficult to displace. Owing to the depletion of lighter fractions,
the processing of these heavier fractions has become important to sustain the fuel
requirements. But what makes this a difficult task is the fact that the heavy and extraheavy oils are unsusceptible to primary and secondary recovery treatments. Oils
are characterized by their API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity. API gravity
gives a comparison with respect to water of how heavy or light the oil is. Medium
and heavy oils usually range from 25 to 15° API in comparison with light crudes