Convergent Technologies Applied to the Oil Productivity Improvement and Enhancement of Oil Recovery

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 February 2023) | Viewed by 6171

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Process and Energy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin 050036, Colombia
Interests: transition energy; energy storage; CCUS; hydrogen production; green synthesis; nanomaterials; nanoparticles; catalysts; adsorption; absorption; nanomaterial characterization; water treatments; quantum dots; fuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Process and Energy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin 050036, Colombia
Interests: transition energy; energy storage; CCUS; hydrogen production; green synthesis; nanomaterials; nanoparticles; catalysts; adsorption; absorption; nanomaterial characterization; water treatments; quantum dots; fuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, cognitive sciences, information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are considered the four pillars on which humanity will propel its development. These technologies are called convergent because their synergy will allow matter in different states to reach its maximum potential, and they are the main protagonists of the fourth industrial revolution. In this sense, the main objective of this Special Issue is to present the potential for convergence and the impact that converging technologies have in optimizing oil productivity and recovery, focusing on the synergy of nanotechnology with cognitive sciences, information technology, and biotechnology.

Here, authors are encouraged to provide novel, original, and high-quality articles as powerful tools for the readers of Nanomaterials, the scientific community, and members of the oil and gas industry. Original research and review articles are welcome for this Special Issue.

Topics that will be considered for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • EOR;
  • EGR (enhanced gas recovery);
  • Formation damage;
  • IOR (improved oil recovery) and well productivity;
  • Unconventional resources;
  • Surface and/or interface phenomena;
  • Microfluidic;
  • Nanofluids/nanoparticles;
  • Energy transition;
  • CCUS.

Dr. Camilo A. Franco
Prof. Dr. Farid B. Cortés
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanotechnology
  • cognitive sciences
  • information technology
  • biotechnology
  • convergent technologies
  • oil
  • gas
  • productivity
  • recovery

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4048 KiB  
Article
Use of Nanoparticles in Completion Fluids as Dual Effect Treatments for Well Stimulation and Clay Swelling Damage Inhibition: An Assessment of the Effect of Nanoparticle Chemical Nature
by Daniel López, Nicolas M. Chamat, Dahiana Galeano-Caro, Liliana Páramo, Diego Ramirez, David Jaramillo, Farid B. Cortés and Camilo A. Franco
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030388 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of nanoparticles with different chemical structures in completion fluids (CF) in providing a positive dual effect for well stimulation and clay swelling damage inhibition. Six types of commercial (C) or synthesized (S) nanoparticles [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of nanoparticles with different chemical structures in completion fluids (CF) in providing a positive dual effect for well stimulation and clay swelling damage inhibition. Six types of commercial (C) or synthesized (S) nanoparticles have been incorporated into a commercial completion fluid. Doses varied between 100 and 500 mg·L−1. CF-nanoparticles were evaluated by fluid–fluid, fluid–nanoparticle, and fluid–rock interactions. The adsorption isotherms show different degrees of affinity, which impacts on the reduction of the interfacial tension between the CF and the reservoir fluids. Fluid–fluid interactions based on interfacial tension (IFT) measurements suggest that positively charged nanoparticles exhibit high IFT reductions. Based on contact angle measurements, fluid–rock interactions suggest that ZnO-S, SiO2-C, SiO2-S, and ZrO2 can adequately promote water–wet rock surfaces compared with other nanomaterials. According to the capillary number, ZnO-S and MgO-S have a higher capacity to reduce both interfacial and surface restrictions for crude oil production, suggesting that completion fluid with nanoparticles (NanoCF) can function as a stimulation agent. The clay swelling inhibition test in the presence of ZnO-S-CTAB and MgO-S-CTAB nanoparticles showed a 28.6% decrease in plastic viscosity (PV), indicating a reduction in clay swelling. The results indicate that a high-clay environment can meet the completion fluid’s requirements. They also indicate that the degree of clay swelling inhibition of the nanoparticles depends on their chemical nature and dosage. Finally, displacement tests revealed that CF with nanoparticles increased the oil linear displacement efficiency. Full article
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13 pages, 3640 KiB  
Article
High-Field (3.4 T) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, 1H Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance, ESEEM, HYSCORE, and Relaxation Studies of Asphaltene Solubility Fractions of Bitumen for Structural Characterization of Intrinsic Carbon-Centered Radicals
by Marat Gafurov, Yulia Ganeeva, Tatyana Yusupova, Fadis Murzakhanov and Georgy Mamin
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4218; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234218 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1488
Abstract
Petroleum asphaltenes are considered the most irritating components of various oil systems, complicating the extraction, transportation, and processing of hydrocarbons. Despite the fact that the paramagnetic properties of asphaltenes and their aggregates have been studied since the 1950s, there is still no clear [...] Read more.
Petroleum asphaltenes are considered the most irritating components of various oil systems, complicating the extraction, transportation, and processing of hydrocarbons. Despite the fact that the paramagnetic properties of asphaltenes and their aggregates have been studied since the 1950s, there is still no clear understanding of the structure of stable paramagnetic centers in petroleum systems. The paper considers the possibilities of various electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques to study petroleum asphaltenes and their solubility fractions using a carbon-centered stable free radical (FR) as an intrinsic probe. The dilution of asphaltenes with deuterated toluene made it possible to refine the change in the structure at the initial stage of asphaltene disaggregation. From the measurements of samples of bitumen, a planar circumcoronene-like model of FR structure and FR-centered asphaltenes is proposed. The results show that EPR-based approaches can serve as sensitive numerical tools to follow asphaltenes’ structure and their disaggregation. Full article
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17 pages, 2567 KiB  
Article
Development of Bio-Nanofluids Based on the Effect of Nanoparticles’ Chemical Nature and Novel Solanum torvum Extract for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) Processes
by Karol Zapata, Yuber Rodríguez, Sergio H. Lopera, Farid B. Cortes and Camilo A. Franco
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(18), 3214; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12183214 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1459
Abstract
This study aimed to develop novel bio-nanofluids using Solanum torvum extracts in synergy with nanoparticles of different chemical nature as a proposal sustainable for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. For this, saponin-rich extracts (SRE) were obtained from Solanum torvum fruit using ultrasound-assisted and [...] Read more.
This study aimed to develop novel bio-nanofluids using Solanum torvum extracts in synergy with nanoparticles of different chemical nature as a proposal sustainable for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. For this, saponin-rich extracts (SRE) were obtained from Solanum torvum fruit using ultrasound-assisted and Soxhlet extraction. The results revealed that Soxhlet is more efficient for obtaining SRE from Solanum torvum and that degreasing does not generate additional yields. SRE was characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis, hydrophilic–lipophilic balance, and critical micelle concentration analyses. Bio-nanofluids based on SiO2 (strong acid), ZrO2 (acid), Al2O3 (neutral), and MgO (basic) nanoparticles and SRE were designed to evaluate the effect of the chemical nature of the nanoparticles on the SRE performance. The results show that 100 mg L−1 MgO nanoparticles improved the interfacial tension up to 57% and the capillary number increased by two orders of magnitude using this bio-nanofluid. SRE solutions enhanced with MgO recovered about 21% more than the system in the absence of nanoparticles. The addition of MgO nanoparticles did not cause a loss of injectivity. This is the first study on the surface-active properties of Solanum torvum enhanced with nanomaterials as an environmentally friendly EOR process. Full article
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24 pages, 4489 KiB  
Article
Development and Evaluation from Laboratory to Field Trial of a Dual-Purpose Fracturing Nanofluid: Inhibition of Associated Formation Damage and Increasing Heavy Crude Oil Mobility
by María A. Giraldo, Richard D. Zabala, Jorge I. Bahamón, Juan M. Ulloa, José M. Usurriaga, José C. Cárdenas, Camilo Mazo, Juan D. Guzmán, Sergio H. Lopera, Camilo A. Franco and Farid B. Cortés
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(13), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132195 - 26 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1758
Abstract
This study aims to develop and evaluate fracturing nanofluids from the laboratory to the field trial with the dual purpose of increasing heavy crude oil mobility and reducing formation damage caused by the remaining fracturing fluid (FF). Two fumed silica nanoparticles of different [...] Read more.
This study aims to develop and evaluate fracturing nanofluids from the laboratory to the field trial with the dual purpose of increasing heavy crude oil mobility and reducing formation damage caused by the remaining fracturing fluid (FF). Two fumed silica nanoparticles of different sizes, and alumina nanoparticles were modified on the surface through basic and acidic treatments. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and total acidity. The rheological behavior of the linear gel and the heavy crude oil after adding different chemical nature nanoparticles were measured at two concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg/L. Also, the contact angle assessed the alteration of the rock wettability. The nanoparticle with better performance was the raw fumed silica of 7 nm at 1000 mg/L. These were employed to prepare a fracturing nanofluid from a commercial FF. Both fluids were evaluated through their rheological behavior as a function of time at high pressure following the API RP39 test, and spontaneous imbibition tests were carried out to assess the FF’s capacity to modify the wettability of the porous media. It was possible to conclude that the inclusion of 7 nm commercial silica nanoparticles allowed obtaining a reduction of 10 and 20% in the two breakers used in the commercial fracture fluid formulation without altering the rheological properties of the system. Displacement tests were also performed on proppant and rock samples at reservoir conditions of overburden and pore pressures of 3200 and 1200 psi, respectively, while the temperature was set at 77 °C and the flow rate at 0.3 cm3/min. According to the effective oil permeability, a decrease of 31% in the damage was obtained. Based on these results, the fracturing nanofluid was selected and used in the first worldwide field application in a Colombian oil field with a basic sediment and water (BSW%) of 100 and without oil production. After two weeks of the hydraulic fracture operation, crude oil was produced. Finally, one year after this work, crude oil viscosity and BSW% kept showing reductions near 75% and 33%, respectively; and having passed two years, the cumulative incremental oil production is around 120,000 barrels. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 434 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticles in Chemical EOR: A Review on Flooding Tests
by Akram Al-Asadi, Eva Rodil and Ana Soto
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4142; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234142 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
The use of nanofluids is showing promise as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. Several reviews have been published focusing on the main mechanisms involved in the process. This new study, unlike previous works, aims to collect information about the most promising nano-EOR [...] Read more.
The use of nanofluids is showing promise as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. Several reviews have been published focusing on the main mechanisms involved in the process. This new study, unlike previous works, aims to collect information about the most promising nano-EOR methods according to their performance in core-flooding tests. As its main contribution, it presents useful information for researchers interested in experimental application of nano-EOR methods. Additional recoveries (after brine flooding) up to 15% of the original oil in place, or higher when combined with smart water or magnetic fields, have been found with formulations consisting of simple nanoparticles in water or brine. The functionalization of nanoparticles and their combination with surfactants and/or polymers take advantage of the synergy of different EOR methods and can lead to higher additional recoveries. The cost, difficulty of preparation, and stability of the formulations have to be considered in practical applications. Additional oil recoveries shown in the reviewed papers encourage the application of the method at larger scales, but experimental limitations could be offering misleading results. More rigorous and systematic works are required to draw reliable conclusions regarding the best type and size of nanoparticles according to the application (type of rock, permeability, formation brine, reservoir conditions, other chemicals in the formulation, etc.) Full article
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