Since the oil reservoirs are limited and energy demand is increasing, seeking for high efficient EOR processes or enhancing the efficiency of current proposed EOR methods for producing trapped oil from reservoirs are highly investigated. As a way out, it is possible to couple the EOR and nanotechnology to utilize the efficiency of both methods together. Regarding this possibility, in the current study, in the first stage of investigation stable and uniform water-based solution of nano size particles of copper oxide with different concentrations (0.01-0.05 M) were prepared and then injected into the core samples. In the first stage, the effects of different surfactants respect to their concentrations was investigated. Then, different scenarios of using nano-fluid as a thermal conductivity modifier were examined. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that changing concentration of nano particles of copper oxide from 0.01 M to 0.05 M is able to enhance the thermal conductivity of rocks from 27 % to 48 % compared with the thermal conductivity of dry core.

Article Highlights • Three conventional surfactants and one ionic liquid type are used as stabilizing agents • 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C 12 mim] [Cl]) was used as a new kind of surfactant • Thermal conductivity of base fluid was increased up to 48% using nanoparticles of copper oxide