Application of Nanoparticles-Based Technologies in the Oil …
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properties can be enhanced for making them suitable candidates as nanosensors or
imaging materials (Bennetzen and Mogensen 2014).
A number of researchers have also found such novel applications of NPs as
nanosensors. In 2007, Song et al. developed the use of hyperpolarized silicon NPs as
nanosensors in oil and gas exploration (Song and Marcus 2007). These hyperpolarized NPs were tested and were found to be promising from the results in bio-medical
engineering as alternative tracker particles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
(Cassidy et al. 2013; Schröder et al. 2006). Jahagirdar proposed the detection of
oil microbes in the formations using nano-optical fibers based on the principle of
Raman spectroscopy (Jahagirdar 2008). As microbes have characteristics specific to
their environment, this method can be utilized to measure the reservoir properties
such as pressure, temperature and salinity indirectly. Li et al. patented the technology for real-time monitoring of two-dimensional analysis for oil reservoir evaluation,
using carbon nanostructure and surface sensors (Li and Meyyappan 2011). Besides,
magnetic NPs have been applied for detecting flood front and oil–water interfaces
(Al-Shehri et al. 2013). Similarly, Rahmani et al. applied superparamagnetic NP for
tracking the drive fluid front using a magnetic sensing method (Rahmani et al. 2015).
Nanorobots have also made significant advancement and are most recently used
for oil and gas exploration (He et al. 2016). Liu et al. had successfully used a nanodetection device which combined with a reservoir sensor and micro-signal transmission
helps in detection of geological strata (He et al. 2016). All these studies demonstrate
that NPs have the potential to be applied for characterization of the reservoirs and
exploration of hydrocarbons.
2.2 Nanotechnology in Drilling and Production
With the decline in the oil production rates over the year throughout the globe, the
oil and gas exploration and production industry have now increased the focus on
technological advancements. Owing to higher challenges faced at operational depth,
increased complexity of drilling projects, associated subsurface geo-hazards with
increasing depths, complex wellbore profiles, length of horizontal and number of
laterals departure to maximize production are a number of factors that limits the
operations of current drilling and production technologies (Kong and Ohadi 2010).
Owing to recent advancements, nowadays oil and gas E&P industries are looking for alternatives that are smaller in dimension, chemically and thermally stable
(withstand harsh reservoir conditions), biological in nature, environmentally friendly,
polymer or other natural products that can be constituted as smart fluids for use in
both drilling and production. As for the future production, Amanullah and Ashraf
(2009) acknowledge the increase in number of recoveries from deep water reserves
(40–50% of future oil recovery) compared to onshore reserves (Amanullah and AlTahini 2009). Such type of reserves requires different operating conditions than normal drilling and production projects. The drilling hazards are more due to complex
reservoir nature as it involves shift from vertical to horizontal drilling, and increased
261
properties can be enhanced for making them suitable candidates as nanosensors or
imaging materials (Bennetzen and Mogensen 2014).
A number of researchers have also found such novel applications of NPs as
nanosensors. In 2007, Song et al. developed the use of hyperpolarized silicon NPs as
nanosensors in oil and gas exploration (Song and Marcus 2007). These hyperpolarized NPs were tested and were found to be promising from the results in bio-medical
engineering as alternative tracker particles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
(Cassidy et al. 2013; Schröder et al. 2006). Jahagirdar proposed the detection of
oil microbes in the formations using nano-optical fibers based on the principle of
Raman spectroscopy (Jahagirdar 2008). As microbes have characteristics specific to
their environment, this method can be utilized to measure the reservoir properties
such as pressure, temperature and salinity indirectly. Li et al. patented the technology for real-time monitoring of two-dimensional analysis for oil reservoir evaluation,
using carbon nanostructure and surface sensors (Li and Meyyappan 2011). Besides,
magnetic NPs have been applied for detecting flood front and oil–water interfaces
(Al-Shehri et al. 2013). Similarly, Rahmani et al. applied superparamagnetic NP for
tracking the drive fluid front using a magnetic sensing method (Rahmani et al. 2015).
Nanorobots have also made significant advancement and are most recently used
for oil and gas exploration (He et al. 2016). Liu et al. had successfully used a nanodetection device which combined with a reservoir sensor and micro-signal transmission
helps in detection of geological strata (He et al. 2016). All these studies demonstrate
that NPs have the potential to be applied for characterization of the reservoirs and
exploration of hydrocarbons.
2.2 Nanotechnology in Drilling and Production
With the decline in the oil production rates over the year throughout the globe, the
oil and gas exploration and production industry have now increased the focus on
technological advancements. Owing to higher challenges faced at operational depth,
increased complexity of drilling projects, associated subsurface geo-hazards with
increasing depths, complex wellbore profiles, length of horizontal and number of
laterals departure to maximize production are a number of factors that limits the
operations of current drilling and production technologies (Kong and Ohadi 2010).
Owing to recent advancements, nowadays oil and gas E&P industries are looking for alternatives that are smaller in dimension, chemically and thermally stable
(withstand harsh reservoir conditions), biological in nature, environmentally friendly,
polymer or other natural products that can be constituted as smart fluids for use in
both drilling and production. As for the future production, Amanullah and Ashraf
(2009) acknowledge the increase in number of recoveries from deep water reserves
(40–50% of future oil recovery) compared to onshore reserves (Amanullah and AlTahini 2009). Such type of reserves requires different operating conditions than normal drilling and production projects. The drilling hazards are more due to complex
reservoir nature as it involves shift from vertical to horizontal drilling, and increased