Interaction of Heavy Crude Oil and Nanoparticles …
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Fig. 13 Effects of ultra-dispersed catalyst (NiMoW) on recovery of vacuum gas oil at two temperatures (340 °C and 320 °C) with time from the sand pack experiment. Reprinted with permission
(Hashemi et al. 2013). Copyright (2013)
fractions. Multimetallic particles are more focused on incorporating the individual
properties of specific metals into a single particle. An example would be a mixture of asphaltene adsorption properties of nickel and better hydrodesulphurization
properties of molybdenum and tungsten (Hashemi et al. 2013). Figure 13 shows the
recovery plots in a fluid flooding process involving vacuum gas oil (Nexen, Alberta)
in the case of ultradispersed (UD) trimetallic (NiWMo) colloidal nanoparticles.
It is evident from Fig. 13 that multimetallic nanoparticles are effective in colloidal
dispersions to recover heavy fractions. As the temperature increases, the effectivity
of the particles becomes more prominent in recovering the gas oil. At 340 °C the
vacuum gas oil recovery sees a plateau which is in contrast with the increased recovery
through the dispersed catalyst at the same temperature.
The effectiveness of dispersed catalysts stems from the fact that apart from being
dispersive in both oil and water, they affect the interface and give a dynamic surface
for the temperature and water to break down heavy oil structure. The effectiveness of
individual nanoparticles can be increased by using them as emulsions and nanofluids.
Nanoemulsions (nanoparticles forming colloidal suspensions in fluids) have shown
prospective development in oil recovery experiments. They can be developed from
many types of nanoparticles which can be used for the formation of suspensions.
Other than thermal methods use of miscible injection coupled with thermal methods
has also been shown to improve oil recovery. They produce changes in interfacial
tension and altering the reservoir rock properties. Heat intensive processes are one of
249
Fig. 13 Effects of ultra-dispersed catalyst (NiMoW) on recovery of vacuum gas oil at two temperatures (340 °C and 320 °C) with time from the sand pack experiment. Reprinted with permission
(Hashemi et al. 2013). Copyright (2013)
fractions. Multimetallic particles are more focused on incorporating the individual
properties of specific metals into a single particle. An example would be a mixture of asphaltene adsorption properties of nickel and better hydrodesulphurization
properties of molybdenum and tungsten (Hashemi et al. 2013). Figure 13 shows the
recovery plots in a fluid flooding process involving vacuum gas oil (Nexen, Alberta)
in the case of ultradispersed (UD) trimetallic (NiWMo) colloidal nanoparticles.
It is evident from Fig. 13 that multimetallic nanoparticles are effective in colloidal
dispersions to recover heavy fractions. As the temperature increases, the effectivity
of the particles becomes more prominent in recovering the gas oil. At 340 °C the
vacuum gas oil recovery sees a plateau which is in contrast with the increased recovery
through the dispersed catalyst at the same temperature.
The effectiveness of dispersed catalysts stems from the fact that apart from being
dispersive in both oil and water, they affect the interface and give a dynamic surface
for the temperature and water to break down heavy oil structure. The effectiveness of
individual nanoparticles can be increased by using them as emulsions and nanofluids.
Nanoemulsions (nanoparticles forming colloidal suspensions in fluids) have shown
prospective development in oil recovery experiments. They can be developed from
many types of nanoparticles which can be used for the formation of suspensions.
Other than thermal methods use of miscible injection coupled with thermal methods
has also been shown to improve oil recovery. They produce changes in interfacial
tension and altering the reservoir rock properties. Heat intensive processes are one of