The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of particle size and surface acidity of synthesized silica gel nanoparticles on the inhibition of formation damage caused by asphaltene ...precipitation/deposition. Silica gel nanoparticles were synthesized through the sol–gel method, and their characterization was performed via N2 physisorption at −196 °C, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The size of the synthesized nanoparticles ranged from 11 to 240 nm. The ability of the nanoparticles to adsorb asphaltenes and to reduce asphaltene self-association was evaluated using batch-mode experiments. The kinetics of asphaltene aggregate growth in the presence and absence of nanoparticles were evaluated using DLS measurements in different Heptol solutions. The smallest nanoparticles (11 nm) had the highest adsorptive capacity for n-C7 asphaltenes among the nanoparticles studied. Therefore, these nanoparticles were modified using acid, base, and neutral treatments, which showed the following order S11A ≫ S11B ≃ S11N ≃ S11 according to the n-C7 asphaltene affinity and the reduction of its mean aggregate size in the bulk phase. The surface acidity values obtained through of temperature-programmed desorption test ranged from 1.07 and 1.32 mmol/g. In general, the asphaltene self-association was reduced to a higher degree as the amount of adsorbed asphaltene increased. Additionally, in this study, the performance of a nanofluid treatment was tested under flow conditions in porous media under typical reservoir conditions using the nanoparticles with the best performance in batch-mode experiments. Indeed, nanofluid treatment with silica nanoparticles increased the effective permeability to oil and enhanced the oil recovery with an increase in the recovery factor of 11% under the conditions reported here. This approach has the major benefit of being scalable to a producing field, and the study provides an understanding of the roles of size and surface acidity of silica nanoparticles in the wettability alteration and inhibition of formation damage caused by asphaltenes and their influences on asphaltene aggregate size in the oil matrix and the adsorbed phases.
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The main objective of this work is to develop a nanofluid based on the adsorption/desorption process of cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants onto nanoparticles and its application in enhancing ...the process of oil recovery. The development of the nanofluids was divided into two experimental routes for understanding the adsorption phenomena of the surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20)) onto silica nanoparticles (SiO2) by (I) simultaneous addition of nanoparticles and surfactant before micelle formation and (II) the addition of nanoparticles after micelle formation. The adsorption/desorption isotherms for determining the ability of nanoparticles to adsorb surfactants were obtained at 25, 50, and 70 °C using batch-mode experiments. The experimental adsorption isotherms were types I and III depending on the route and the chemical nature of the surfactant and were adequately described by the solid–liquid equilibrium (SLE) model. The amount adsorbed of surfactant onto nanoparticles decreased in the order CTAB > Tween 20 > SDS and was higher for route II than for route I. Meanwhile, the desorption percentages obtained were 2.0, 5.3, and 9.1% for CTAB, Tween 20, and SDS, respectively. The thermodynamic behavior of surfactant adsorption onto SiO2 nanoparticles suggested that the adsorption was a spontaneous and an exothermic process. From the adsorption/desorption isotherms, a composite nanomaterial for enhancing oil recovery was obtained and was evaluated through interfacial tension (IFT) measurements and displacement tests using a micromodel. The composite material based on nanoparticles–surfactant did not generate a significant effect on interfacial tension compared to the surfactant solution. However, the nanofluid increased the oil recovery up to 240% regarding surfactant flooding.
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Some of the advantages of the simultaneous use of surfactants and nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes are the increase in the efficiency of injection fluid for sweeping, the ...reduction of adsorption of the surfactant onto the reservoir rock, the alteration of wettability, and the reduction of water/crude oil interfacial tension (IFT). However, a large amount of nanoparticles required in chemical EOR processes might limit their application. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles that can be recovered and to study their impact on the reduction of surfactant adsorption on the porous media and oil recovery at reservoir conditions. The additional benefit of the proposed method is that these nanoparticles can be recovered and reused after the application because of their magnetic properties. The magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles were obtained following a new one-pot hydrothermal procedure and were carbonized at 900 °C using a teflon-lined autoclave. The core–shell nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, N2 physisorption at −196 °C, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and magnetometry measurements. The magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles with an average particle size of 60 nm were obtained. The XPS spectrum corroborated that magnetic Fe(0) of the core was adequately coated with a carbon shell. The IFT was measured using a spinning drop tensiometer for a medium viscosity crude oil and a surfactant mixture. The minimum IFT reached was approximately 1 × 10–4 mN m–1 at a nanoparticle concentration of 100 mg L–1. At this concentration, the dynamic adsorption tests demonstrated that the nanoparticles reduce 33% the adsorption of the surfactant mixture in the porous media. The simultaneous effect of core–shell nanoparticles and the surfactant mixture was evaluated in a displacement test at reservoir conditions obtaining a final oil recovery of 98%.
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Microfluidic devices are miniaturized systems that manipulate fluids on a small scale, typically at microlitre or nanolitre volumes. They have received significant attention in various industries, ...including petroleum applications. The recent advancements in microfluidic devices for petroleum applications have the potential to improve oil recovery efficiency, reduce costs, and provide valuable insights into fluid behaviour and reservoir characterization. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of microfluidic devices, their materials, and their applications in the petroleum industry. The first section of the paper focuses on describing the materials used in microfluidic devices specifically tailored for energy sector applications. In the second section, the paper highlights relevant applications and discoveries in petroleum research, showcasing the innovative techniques and special features enabled by microfluidic devices. These applications include but are not limited to asphaltenes characterization, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and water treatment. The versatility and customization of microfluidic devices have allowed researchers to accurately represent fractures, ensure chemical conformance, simulate high pressure–high temperature conditions and reservoir heterogeneity, and study geochemical interaction. Additionally, molecular tagging and machine learning techniques have been employed for image analysis, further enhancing the capabilities of microfluidic devices. Throughout the paper, the advantages and disadvantages of implementing microfluidic devices and utilizing specific materials are thoroughly discussed. This analysis provides valuable insights into the challenges and potential limitations associated with this technology. To conclude, the paper offers suggestions, ideas, and highlights for future research paths, pointing toward promising directions for further exploration in this field.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The primary objective of this study is the synthesis of nanocapsules (NC) that allow the reduction of the adsorption process of surfactant over the porous media in enhanced oil recovery processes. ...Nanocapsules were synthesized through the nanoprecipitation method by encapsulating commercial surfactants Span 20 and Petro 50, and using type II resins isolated from vacuum residue as a shell. The NC were characterized using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, solvency tests, softening point measurements and entrapment efficiency. The obtained NC showed spherical geometry with sizes of 71 and 120 nm for encapsulated Span 20 (NCS20), and Petro 50 surfactant (NCP50), respectively. Also, the NCS20 is composed of 90% of surfactant and 10% of type II resins, while the NCP50 material is 94% of surfactant and 6% of the shell. Nanofluids of nanocapsules dispersed in deionized water were prepared for evaluating the nanofluid—sandstone interaction from adsorption phenomena using a batch-mode method, contact angle measurements, and FTIR analysis. The results showed that NC adsorption was null at the different conditions of temperatures evaluated of 25, 50, and 70 °C, and stirring velocities up to 10,000 rpm. IFT measurements showed a reduction from 18 to 1.62 and 0.15 mN/m for the nanofluids with 10 mg/L of NCS20, and NCP50 materials, respectively. Displacements tests were conducted using a 20 °API crude oil in a quarter five-spot pattern micromodel and showed an additional oil recovery of 23% in comparison with that of waterflooding, with fewer pore volumes injected than when using a dissolved surfactant.
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The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of the simultaneous use of a surfactant mixture and magnetic iron core-carbon shell nanoparticles on oil recovery via a microfluidic study ...based on the rock-on-a-chip technology. The surfactant solution used for all experiments was prepared based on a field formulation and consisted of a mixture of a hydrophilic and a lipophilic surfactant. Magnetic iron core-carbon shell nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 60 nm and a surface area of 123 m2 g−1 were employed. The displacement experiments consisted of waterflooding, surfactant flooding and nanoparticle-surfactant flooding and were performed using PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)-glass microdevices type random network. The characteristics and design of the microfluidic device allowed to emulate a mixed wettability of a porous medium. Then, the oil was displaced by injecting the solution at a constant injection rate, until steady-state conditions were obtained. Furthermore, the effect of three injection rates corresponding to 0.1 ft day−1, 1 ft day−1, and 10 ft day−1 was investigated. The increase in the injection rate favored the oil recovery percentage. In addition, for all injection rates, the oil recovery decreased in the following order: nanoparticle-surfactant flooding > surfactant flooding > waterflooding. The nanoparticle-surfactant system at the injection rate of 1.9 μL min−1 presented the highest oil recovery (i.e., 84%). Likewise, nanoparticle-surfactant flooding showed a more stable displacement front and consequently, the highest capillary number among the injection fluids. Oil recovery by waterflooding was the lowest among the evaluated systems due to the viscous fingering phenomena under different injection rates. In addition, it can be observed that for all injection rates, the presence of the surfactant mixture and nanoparticles reduce the viscous fingering effect. The results can be used to visually and quantitatively analyze the role of the simultaneous use of nanoparticles with surfactants in enhanced oil recovery processes.
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•A microfluidic investigation using nanoparticles and surfactant was performed for oil recovery.•The increase in the injection rate increased capillary number and, thus the oil recovery.•The nanoparticle-surfactant flooding presented the highest oil recovery.•The simultaneous use of nanoparticles and surfactant reduced viscous fingering effect.•The nanoparticle-surfactant solution modified the wettability of substrates of microfluidic devices.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Colombia has made different efforts to contribute to fulfilling its international commitments to curb climate change by reducing emissions and promoting technological development and project ...financing. However, the existing policies and regulatory framework primarily focus on promoting the photovoltaic industry for electricity production. Likewise, the energy sector has neglected the potential of solar thermal energy as a heat source. In this sense, it is necessary to redouble efforts through new public policies that integrate solar thermal energy in the residential and productive sectors. Using solar thermal energy for heating can contribute to the energy transition and meet its sustainable development goals. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to analyze Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to determine the potential application of thermal solar heat in Colombia while considering the local context. Factors such as their environmental conditions, policies, and regulations; the existence of international agreements; and their political status in general were analyzed. The analysis revealed Colombia’s significant solar heat potential, enabling over 1.3 million cold-climate households to access hot water or reduce firewood use. Industrially, applying solar heat in 5% of the current industry could decrease fossil fuel consumption by 13 PJ. The findings highlight that Colombia’s potential in thermal solar energy necessitates collaborative efforts, legislative reinforcement, climate-adaptive measures, and the resolution of political and social challenges.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the preparation of the nanofluids based on the interactions between the surfactants, nanoparticles, and brine for being applied in ...ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) for an enhanced oil recovery process. Three methodologies for the addition of the salt–surfactant–nanoparticle components for the formulation of an efficient injection fluid were evaluated: order of addition (i) salts, nanoparticles, and surfactants, (ii) salts, surfactants, and then nanoparticles, (iii) surfactants, nanoparticles, and then salts. Also, the effects of the total dissolved solids and the surfactant concentration were evaluated in the interfacial tension for selecting the better formulation of the surfactant solution. Three nanoparticles of different chemical natures were studied: silica gel (SiO2), alumina (γ-Al2O3), and magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential, N2 physisorption at −196 °C, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the interactions between the surfactant, different types of nanoparticles, and brine were investigated through adsorption isotherms for the three methodologies. The nanofluids based on the different nanoparticles were evaluated through IFT measurements using the spinning drop method. The adsorbed amount of surfactant mixture on nanoparticles decreased in the order of alumina > silica gel > magnetic iron core–carbon shell nanoparticles. The minimum IFT achieved was 1 × 10–4 mN m–1 following the methodology II at a core–shell nanoparticle dosage of 100 mg L–1.
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El uso de los fluidos de perforación (FP) en las operaciones de campo, ocasiona diversos problemas entre los que se encuentran daños a la formación, pérdidas por circulación y formación de una ...retorta que en caso de ser permeable y gruesa, puede ocasionar inestabilidad en las paredes del pozo, atascamiento de tubería e hinchamiento de formaciones de arcillas en el caso de fluidos del tipo base agua (WBM, por sus siglas en inglés). Con el objetivo de minimizar los problemas asociados a la inyección de FP, se propuso la evaluación de una modificación del FP convencional base agua que incluye el uso de nanopartículas funcionalizadas a diferentes concentraciones. La funcionalización de las nanopartículas se realizó mediante la técnica de impregnación incipiente. Las nanopartículas vírgenes fueron caracterizadas por adsorción de nitrógeno a 77 K y difracción de rayos X (DRX). Los FP se evaluaron a partir del estudio reológico, la medición de propiedades físico-químicas (densidad y pH), y mediante la prueba de filtrado API (American Petroleum Institute: API, por sus siglas en inglés) que sigue la norma API 13B-1. Los fluidos de perforación presentaron un comportamiento reológico no newtoniano independiente del tiempo, al igual que los FP modificados con el uso de nanopartículas. La densidad (8.5 lbm/gal) y el pH se mantuvieron constantes después de la adición de nanopartículas. Las nanopartículas de sílice funcionalizadas con carboximetilcelulosa (CMC) fueron las que mostraron los mejores resultados basados en las pérdidas de filtrado y en la reducción del espesor de la retorta. Los resultados obtenidos con CMC en sílice fueron los siguientes: reducciones en las pérdidas de filtrado y en la retorta de 23 y 70%, respectivamente. En los resultados también se observó que las nanopartículas de sílice no generan efectos adversos sobre las propiedades del FP, tales como densidad, viscosidad y pH. Otra característica importante de las nanopartículas de sílice son los grupos silanol (SiOH) que actúan como centros de adsorción, lo que permite su funcionalización con CMC y favorece el desarrollo de sus propiedades viscosificantes en los FP.
Using drilling fluids (DF) in field operations is associated with several problems including formation damage, lost circulation and the formation of a mudcake. High permeability of the mudcake causes ...instability in wellbore, pipe sticking and swelling of clay formations in the case of Water Based Muds (WBM). In order to minimize some of these associated problems with the use of DF, a new fluid is proposed by inclusion of four different functionalized nanoparticles in a WBM at different concentrations. The functionalization of the nanoparticles was performed by incipient impregnation technique. Virgin and functionalized nanoparticles were characterized by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K (physisorption) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Bentonitic WBM were evaluated (with a constant density of 8.5 lbm/gal) and also modified with the addition of functionalized nanoparticles. Such fluids were tested by a rheological study, measurement of physicochemical properties (density and pH) and through the American Petroleum Institute (API) filter test following the standard API RP 13B -1. The original or base DF showed a non-Newtonian rheological behavior independent of the time, as well as the modified DF using nanoparticles. The density and the pH remained constant after the addition of nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles functionalized with CMC were those which showed best results based on the fluid loss and reducing the thickness of the mudcake. The results obtained with silica nanoparticles funcionalizated with CMC showed reduction in fluid loss and in the thickness of the mudcake of 23 and 70%, respectively. This behavior is due to that silica nanoparticles do not generate adverse effects on the properties of the DF, such as density, viscosity and pH. Another important characteristic of the silica nanoparticles are the silanol groups (SiOH) which act as adsorption centers, allowing functionalization with CMC and viscosifying properties that favors the DF performance.