318
U. S. Behera and J. S. Sangwai
3.3.2 Effect of Alumina Nanoparticles
Aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles are the second most popularly used nanoparticles during investigation in the lab scale for enhanced oil recovery. Bayat et al.
(2014) studied the influence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles on viscosity reduction of crude
oil at different temperatures from 26 °C to 60 °C through core flooding experiments.
They have investigated the rheological property of the crude oil after each flooding. They have reported that viscosity of crude oil decreased to a large extent in the
presence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles at 60 °C and enhanced oil recovery by 4.895%.
Ogolo et al. (2012) conducted an experiment to study the viscosity of crude oil in the
presence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles Al 2 O 3 (40 nm) were dispersed
in brine to prepare nanofluids to investigate the effect of nanofluids in reduction of
viscosity of the crude oil. They have reported that there was significant reduction in
the viscosity of crude oil at 26 °C. Extensive study with various nanoparticles such
as Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , magnesium oxide (MgO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide (SnO)
reveals that alumina nanoparticles (40 nm) have tendency to improve oil recovery by
reducing the viscosity of the crude oil. Kamal et al. (2017) performed the number of
experiment with Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 nanoparticles in brine with 0.3 wt% NaCl
for water flooding at 26 °C. The recovery of crude oil was found to be on average of
47.3%. But in the same injection condition in the presence of the above-mentioned
nanoparticles oil recovery was increased due to decrease in viscosity of the crude
oil. Recoveries of oil in the presence of Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 nanoparticles are
reported by authors as 52.6%, 50.9%, and 48.7%, respectively. The decreased viscosity of crude oil helps in reducing the surface tension, increase the permeability of
oil and improve the reservoir seepage conditions.
3.3.3 Effect of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles
Nickel oxide nanoparticles (Ni 2 O 3 ) have been speculated as a good in situ agent in
resolving the oil recovery problems. Dispersion medium plays an important role;
therefore, it is important to select a good dispersion medium for particular types of
dispersed phase during oil recovery operation. Ogolo et al. (2012) experimented four
types of dispersion medium, namely, distilled water, brine, ethanol, and diesel. The
best result in terms of oil recovery obtained was with ethanol dispersion medium. It
was observed that viscosities of injected fluid (NPs + ethanol, NPs + Brine, NPs +
distilled water) were much more than the recovered oil. Viscosity of carbon dioxide
gas (CO 2 ) increased when 1 wt% of nickel oxide (NiO) NPs (60 nm) and 2 wt%
of polydimethylsiloxane mixed with 97 wt% of CO 2 . The above-mentioned injecting fluid was prepared by dispersing NiO nanoparticles into CO 2 prior to injection
into the oil reservoir. This process was carried out at minimum miscible pressure
(6000 psi) to secure CO 2 miscibility at 120 °C. Oil containing asphaltene recovery
percentage increases dramatically by the injection of above prepared fluid up to 70%
(Hashemi et al. 2016). Another study by Barkat et al. (2008) reported that NiO NPs
enhance the viscosity and thermal conductivity of polymer mixture with increasing
U. S. Behera and J. S. Sangwai
3.3.2 Effect of Alumina Nanoparticles
Aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles are the second most popularly used nanoparticles during investigation in the lab scale for enhanced oil recovery. Bayat et al.
(2014) studied the influence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles on viscosity reduction of crude
oil at different temperatures from 26 °C to 60 °C through core flooding experiments.
They have investigated the rheological property of the crude oil after each flooding. They have reported that viscosity of crude oil decreased to a large extent in the
presence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles at 60 °C and enhanced oil recovery by 4.895%.
Ogolo et al. (2012) conducted an experiment to study the viscosity of crude oil in the
presence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles Al 2 O 3 (40 nm) were dispersed
in brine to prepare nanofluids to investigate the effect of nanofluids in reduction of
viscosity of the crude oil. They have reported that there was significant reduction in
the viscosity of crude oil at 26 °C. Extensive study with various nanoparticles such
as Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , magnesium oxide (MgO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide (SnO)
reveals that alumina nanoparticles (40 nm) have tendency to improve oil recovery by
reducing the viscosity of the crude oil. Kamal et al. (2017) performed the number of
experiment with Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 nanoparticles in brine with 0.3 wt% NaCl
for water flooding at 26 °C. The recovery of crude oil was found to be on average of
47.3%. But in the same injection condition in the presence of the above-mentioned
nanoparticles oil recovery was increased due to decrease in viscosity of the crude
oil. Recoveries of oil in the presence of Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and TiO 2 nanoparticles are
reported by authors as 52.6%, 50.9%, and 48.7%, respectively. The decreased viscosity of crude oil helps in reducing the surface tension, increase the permeability of
oil and improve the reservoir seepage conditions.
3.3.3 Effect of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles
Nickel oxide nanoparticles (Ni 2 O 3 ) have been speculated as a good in situ agent in
resolving the oil recovery problems. Dispersion medium plays an important role;
therefore, it is important to select a good dispersion medium for particular types of
dispersed phase during oil recovery operation. Ogolo et al. (2012) experimented four
types of dispersion medium, namely, distilled water, brine, ethanol, and diesel. The
best result in terms of oil recovery obtained was with ethanol dispersion medium. It
was observed that viscosities of injected fluid (NPs + ethanol, NPs + Brine, NPs +
distilled water) were much more than the recovered oil. Viscosity of carbon dioxide
gas (CO 2 ) increased when 1 wt% of nickel oxide (NiO) NPs (60 nm) and 2 wt%
of polydimethylsiloxane mixed with 97 wt% of CO 2 . The above-mentioned injecting fluid was prepared by dispersing NiO nanoparticles into CO 2 prior to injection
into the oil reservoir. This process was carried out at minimum miscible pressure
(6000 psi) to secure CO 2 miscibility at 120 °C. Oil containing asphaltene recovery
percentage increases dramatically by the injection of above prepared fluid up to 70%
(Hashemi et al. 2016). Another study by Barkat et al. (2008) reported that NiO NPs
enhance the viscosity and thermal conductivity of polymer mixture with increasing