Interaction of Nanoparticles
with Reservoir Fluids and Rocks
for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Uma Sankar Behera and Jitendra S. Sangwai
Abstract Nanotechnology is a common word used by academia which is referred to
the applied nanoscience conducted at nanoscale (1–100 nm) for variety of industrial
applications. Application of nanotechnology in various fields is increasing extensively resulting in an enormous amount of publications in the distinct field. Nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique properties due to their larger surface area which leads
to prolong application in multifold. Researchers working in enhanced oil recovery
(EOR) areas are trying to get rid of challenges faced by the oil and gas companies
for crude oil production. This chapter, therefore, focuses on work carried out by the
researchers on chemical and rarely on thermal, gas injection, and biological EOR
methods using NPs. Chemical enhanced oil is recovery (CEOR) methods taken into
consideration due to their popularity in oilfields than the other existing methods.
Viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and wettability are the major influencing factors
for EOR. The authors intend to make the reader understand the pore-scale mechanism behind the enhanced oil recovery in the presence of NPs. In the early stage
of enhanced oil recovery, it is essential to understand the properties of various NPs.
Literature review reveals that properties of NPs mostly depend on methods they are
prepared. Hence, at the beginning of the chapter, the types of NPs, preparation, and
their characterization are explained briefly with the application of various nanoparticles in CEOR. Limitation of NPs application in chemical EOR area is spelled out
clearly with the recommendation at the end.
Keywords Enhance oil recovery · Interfacial tension · Nanoparticles ·
Nanotechnology · Wettability
U. S. Behera · J. S. Sangwai (B)
Gas Hydrate and Flow Assurance Laboratory, Petroleum Engineering Program, Department of
Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
e-mail: jitendrasangwai@iitm.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Ledwani and J. S. Sangwai (eds.), Nanotechnology for Energy and Environmental
Engineering, Green Energy and Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33774-2_13
299
with Reservoir Fluids and Rocks
for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Uma Sankar Behera and Jitendra S. Sangwai
Abstract Nanotechnology is a common word used by academia which is referred to
the applied nanoscience conducted at nanoscale (1–100 nm) for variety of industrial
applications. Application of nanotechnology in various fields is increasing extensively resulting in an enormous amount of publications in the distinct field. Nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique properties due to their larger surface area which leads
to prolong application in multifold. Researchers working in enhanced oil recovery
(EOR) areas are trying to get rid of challenges faced by the oil and gas companies
for crude oil production. This chapter, therefore, focuses on work carried out by the
researchers on chemical and rarely on thermal, gas injection, and biological EOR
methods using NPs. Chemical enhanced oil is recovery (CEOR) methods taken into
consideration due to their popularity in oilfields than the other existing methods.
Viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and wettability are the major influencing factors
for EOR. The authors intend to make the reader understand the pore-scale mechanism behind the enhanced oil recovery in the presence of NPs. In the early stage
of enhanced oil recovery, it is essential to understand the properties of various NPs.
Literature review reveals that properties of NPs mostly depend on methods they are
prepared. Hence, at the beginning of the chapter, the types of NPs, preparation, and
their characterization are explained briefly with the application of various nanoparticles in CEOR. Limitation of NPs application in chemical EOR area is spelled out
clearly with the recommendation at the end.
Keywords Enhance oil recovery · Interfacial tension · Nanoparticles ·
Nanotechnology · Wettability
U. S. Behera · J. S. Sangwai (B)
Gas Hydrate and Flow Assurance Laboratory, Petroleum Engineering Program, Department of
Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
e-mail: jitendrasangwai@iitm.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Ledwani and J. S. Sangwai (eds.), Nanotechnology for Energy and Environmental
Engineering, Green Energy and Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33774-2_13
299