Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
• Guiding acid/surfactant/nano through the micropore
throats by EK
•
Increasing Recovery Factor
•
Enhancing depth of penetration
•
Reducing surfactant and water consumption
•
Better economic and environmental feasibility
The tested core plug where conventional acidizing was performed,
revealed significant fractures penetrating all the way to the sur-
face, rather than precisely delivering the acid front throughout
the core plug. However, in the tested core plug with application of
SMART EOR, the acid front exhibited a deeper depth of penetra-
tion and in turn, preserved the outer surface of the core plug from
reacting with the injected acid.
4.4
(SMART EOR) Electrokinetic-Assisted
Nano-Flooding/Surfactant-Flooding
Nanoparticles are used to enhance the recovery (Fletcher and Davis, 2010).
Nanoparticles alter the properties of oil in order to assist in releasing the
trapped oil. Ayatollahi and Zerafat (2012) showed that injecting particles
1-100 nm in size reduced the viscosity of oil, allowing for greater mobil-
ity of fluids. They tested several compounds, including aluminum oxide
(Al
2
O
3
) and iron oxide (Fe
2
O
3
), with Al
2
O
3
giving the best results.
Wettability can be affected by nanoparticles also (Ogolo and Onyekonwu,
2010, 2012). For example, polysilicon nanoparticles (PSNP) change the
wettability of a rock surface. Lipophobic and hydrophobic PSNP (LHPN)
change wettability from oil-wet to water-wet or water-wet to strongly
water-wet (Ogolo and Onyekonwu, 2012). According to them, this would
increase the oil mobility. Haroun et al. (2012) tested Fe
2
O
3
, CuO, and
NiO (50 nm) nanoparticles. Some of the results comparing simultaneous
vs sequential application of EK assisted nano-flooding are presented in
figures 4.3 and 4.4. Comparison between the EK-assisted nanoflooding
and EK-assisted surfactant-flooding is presented in figure. 4.5.
Nano EOR application flooding has demonstrated promising potential
in carbonate reservoirs by modifying the viscosity of the displacing fluid to
yield increased oil recovery. Some nanoparticles have displayed stability at
high temperature, high pressure and high salinity, making them compat-
ible with some of challenging carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East.
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