Interaction of Nanoparticles with Reservoir Fluids and Rocks …
325
was reported in literature. Investigation result proved that oppositely charge NPs and
surfactant system, i.e., anionic surfactant with cationic NPs or cationic surfactant
with anionic NPs provide comparatively good stabilization (Danial et al. 2018). It
is also noticed that nanoparticles-based stabilized emulsion can sustain even in the
harsh reservoir condition. But there is no field application observed so far based on
the researcher investigation result; hence, a concrete statement cannot be given at
this time.
Another most important concern is safety which needs to be addressed. Nanoparticles are injected into reservoir or wellbore along with drilling fluid, completion
fluid, water flooding, or EOR fluid. Thus, during the operation field worker need to
have preventive measures or else these tiny nanoparticles may enter into the lungs
through respiration and block the lungs pore and cause many more health problems
in human beings. There is no proper technology so far developed to recover the NPs
from the base fluid once after used. If the base fluid is thrown on to the earth’s surface without recovering nanoparticles, then they may enter into the living body and
interact with cells because of their mobility nature. This interaction of nanoparticles
with cells may damage the body tissue causing other problems as well. Due to the
large surface area, nanoparticles absorb quantitatively more body fluid onto their
surface when they encounter with macromolecules. This may affect the regulatory
mechanisms of enzymes and other proteins. Research has shown that buckminsterfullerene, a spherical fullerene molecule with formula C60 can cause brain damage
in fish (Karkare 2015). Therefore, the above-discussed issue should be addressed
before the field-scale application of nanoparticles in EOR.
9 Conclusion
It has been observed that different types of nanoparticles have been used in enhanced
oil recovery investigations by various researchers. Nanoparticles used in enhanced
oil recovery to investigate the effect of particular nanoparticles in wettability alteration; viscosity enhancement and IFT reduction are found to be encouraging for
oilfield application. Use of nanoparticles with displacing fluid decreases the interfacial tension, increases the rheological properties; alters wettability from oil-wet to
more water-wet. The trial of silica nanoparticles is considered by many researchers
for EOR application. It has been found that even though there is a little variation in
the silica nanoparticles size, a good agreement in crude oil recovery is observed. Stability of nanoparticles in the dispersed phase is one of the challenging factors which
have to be addressed by the researchers. Numbers of articles have been published by
various researches, but no field application is carried out so far based on different
nanoparticles. Hence, it is essential to make the process more feasible for field-scale
applications. As the cost of nanoparticles is very high, researchers should pay more
attention to low-cost nanoparticles for EOR application. The recovery procedures
of nanoparticles need more investigations. The nanoparticles are dispersed in the air
325
was reported in literature. Investigation result proved that oppositely charge NPs and
surfactant system, i.e., anionic surfactant with cationic NPs or cationic surfactant
with anionic NPs provide comparatively good stabilization (Danial et al. 2018). It
is also noticed that nanoparticles-based stabilized emulsion can sustain even in the
harsh reservoir condition. But there is no field application observed so far based on
the researcher investigation result; hence, a concrete statement cannot be given at
this time.
Another most important concern is safety which needs to be addressed. Nanoparticles are injected into reservoir or wellbore along with drilling fluid, completion
fluid, water flooding, or EOR fluid. Thus, during the operation field worker need to
have preventive measures or else these tiny nanoparticles may enter into the lungs
through respiration and block the lungs pore and cause many more health problems
in human beings. There is no proper technology so far developed to recover the NPs
from the base fluid once after used. If the base fluid is thrown on to the earth’s surface without recovering nanoparticles, then they may enter into the living body and
interact with cells because of their mobility nature. This interaction of nanoparticles
with cells may damage the body tissue causing other problems as well. Due to the
large surface area, nanoparticles absorb quantitatively more body fluid onto their
surface when they encounter with macromolecules. This may affect the regulatory
mechanisms of enzymes and other proteins. Research has shown that buckminsterfullerene, a spherical fullerene molecule with formula C60 can cause brain damage
in fish (Karkare 2015). Therefore, the above-discussed issue should be addressed
before the field-scale application of nanoparticles in EOR.
9 Conclusion
It has been observed that different types of nanoparticles have been used in enhanced
oil recovery investigations by various researchers. Nanoparticles used in enhanced
oil recovery to investigate the effect of particular nanoparticles in wettability alteration; viscosity enhancement and IFT reduction are found to be encouraging for
oilfield application. Use of nanoparticles with displacing fluid decreases the interfacial tension, increases the rheological properties; alters wettability from oil-wet to
more water-wet. The trial of silica nanoparticles is considered by many researchers
for EOR application. It has been found that even though there is a little variation in
the silica nanoparticles size, a good agreement in crude oil recovery is observed. Stability of nanoparticles in the dispersed phase is one of the challenging factors which
have to be addressed by the researchers. Numbers of articles have been published by
various researches, but no field application is carried out so far based on different
nanoparticles. Hence, it is essential to make the process more feasible for field-scale
applications. As the cost of nanoparticles is very high, researchers should pay more
attention to low-cost nanoparticles for EOR application. The recovery procedures
of nanoparticles need more investigations. The nanoparticles are dispersed in the air