Application of Nanoparticles-Based Technologies in the Oil …
265
in the velocity of NPs drive fluid. This further improves the efficiency of the drive
fluid and the overall NEOR process. When there is a blockage of the pore throats it
raises the pressure of the adjacent pore throats. This increased differential pressure
pushes the oil trapped in the pore throats out in the continuum. As the trapped oil
is mobilized, the pressure drops and the blockage of the NPs is released, thereby
bringing the NPs back in the flow. Both these phenomena depend on the size and
concentration of the NPs, flow rate and dimensions of the pore throats.
Also, few of the researchers have also used a combination of polymeric microspheres and nanospheres for reducing water cut and improving sweep efficiency
(Cheraghian et al. 2013; Cheraghian and Hendraningrat 2016; Cheraghian and Tardasti 2012; Tian et al. 2012). When the combination of these two contacts, they get
swelled up in the formation, which reduces the water permeability through the porous
media and change the path of water flow. This results in the flow of water to bypass
the area and enhance the oil displacing efficiency (Cheraghian and Hendraningrat
2016).
3.1.2 Lowering of the Interfacial Tension
A majority of the oil fields discovered till date are carbonate formations. The efficiency of water flooding in these reservoirs is lower due to the existence of the microscopic trapping and macroscopic bypassing (Sharma and Mohanty 2013; Sheng 2013;
Souayeh et al. 2018). Interfacial tension determines the flow behavior and distribution in the porous media. The reduction of IFT enhances the oil recovery potential
by lowering the capillary forces (Zhang et al. 2010). A number of nanoparticles have
been found to lower the IFT, contributing as a major mechanism toward EOR. The
IFT between the equilibrated oil and the NPs is measured using the pendant drop
method in goniometry or with the help of spinning drop tensiometer (Cheraghian
and Hendraningrat 2016). The value of IFT is measured by analyzing the surface
of a drop from the thin capillary tube using a high-resolution camera and image
analysis software. The dimensions of the oil drop help derive the IFT values using
the Young–Laplace equation.
The decrease in IFT values between the crude oil and different types of NPs has
been mentioned by a number of researchers. Hendraningrat et al. (2013) had measured the IFT using synthetic oil and NPs dispersed in the brine. They had reported a
decrease in IFT (14.7–9.3 mN/m) which further reduced t from 9.3 to 5.2 mN/m with
increasing concentration of NPs. Their results showed that an increasing concentration of NPs decreases the IFT showing sensitivity toward NPs concentration. Li and
Parvazdavani found that the SiO 2 NPs have a more impact toward IFT reduction than
alteration of surface wettability of reservoir rocks (Li et al. 2013; Parvazdavani et al.
2014). Recently, a number of studies were conducted evaluating the potential of metal
nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 , MgO, Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 ) (Cheraghian and Hendraningrat 2016).
Alomair et al. had evaluated the efficiencies of different nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 , NiO
and SiO 2 ) and had found that NiO had reduced the IFT to lowest values while SiO 2
had the lowest IFT value. However, some of the researchers have found good results
265
in the velocity of NPs drive fluid. This further improves the efficiency of the drive
fluid and the overall NEOR process. When there is a blockage of the pore throats it
raises the pressure of the adjacent pore throats. This increased differential pressure
pushes the oil trapped in the pore throats out in the continuum. As the trapped oil
is mobilized, the pressure drops and the blockage of the NPs is released, thereby
bringing the NPs back in the flow. Both these phenomena depend on the size and
concentration of the NPs, flow rate and dimensions of the pore throats.
Also, few of the researchers have also used a combination of polymeric microspheres and nanospheres for reducing water cut and improving sweep efficiency
(Cheraghian et al. 2013; Cheraghian and Hendraningrat 2016; Cheraghian and Tardasti 2012; Tian et al. 2012). When the combination of these two contacts, they get
swelled up in the formation, which reduces the water permeability through the porous
media and change the path of water flow. This results in the flow of water to bypass
the area and enhance the oil displacing efficiency (Cheraghian and Hendraningrat
2016).
3.1.2 Lowering of the Interfacial Tension
A majority of the oil fields discovered till date are carbonate formations. The efficiency of water flooding in these reservoirs is lower due to the existence of the microscopic trapping and macroscopic bypassing (Sharma and Mohanty 2013; Sheng 2013;
Souayeh et al. 2018). Interfacial tension determines the flow behavior and distribution in the porous media. The reduction of IFT enhances the oil recovery potential
by lowering the capillary forces (Zhang et al. 2010). A number of nanoparticles have
been found to lower the IFT, contributing as a major mechanism toward EOR. The
IFT between the equilibrated oil and the NPs is measured using the pendant drop
method in goniometry or with the help of spinning drop tensiometer (Cheraghian
and Hendraningrat 2016). The value of IFT is measured by analyzing the surface
of a drop from the thin capillary tube using a high-resolution camera and image
analysis software. The dimensions of the oil drop help derive the IFT values using
the Young–Laplace equation.
The decrease in IFT values between the crude oil and different types of NPs has
been mentioned by a number of researchers. Hendraningrat et al. (2013) had measured the IFT using synthetic oil and NPs dispersed in the brine. They had reported a
decrease in IFT (14.7–9.3 mN/m) which further reduced t from 9.3 to 5.2 mN/m with
increasing concentration of NPs. Their results showed that an increasing concentration of NPs decreases the IFT showing sensitivity toward NPs concentration. Li and
Parvazdavani found that the SiO 2 NPs have a more impact toward IFT reduction than
alteration of surface wettability of reservoir rocks (Li et al. 2013; Parvazdavani et al.
2014). Recently, a number of studies were conducted evaluating the potential of metal
nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 , MgO, Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 ) (Cheraghian and Hendraningrat 2016).
Alomair et al. had evaluated the efficiencies of different nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 , NiO
and SiO 2 ) and had found that NiO had reduced the IFT to lowest values while SiO 2
had the lowest IFT value. However, some of the researchers have found good results