Micro and nano technologies have already contributed significantly to technological advances in a number of industries, including the electronics, biomedical, pharmaceutical, materials and manufacturing, aerospace, photography, and more recently the energy industries. Micro and nano technologies have the potential to introduce revolutionary changes in several areas of the oil and gas industry, such as exploration, drilling, production, enhanced oil recovery, refining and distribution. For example, nanosensors might provide more detailed and accurate information about reservoirs; specially fabricated nanoparticles can be used for scale inhibition; structural nanomaterials could enable the development of petroleum industry equipment that is much lighter and more reliable and long-lasting; and nanomembranes could enhance the gas separation and removal of impurities from oil and gas streams. Other emerging applications of micro and nano technologies in the petroleum industry are new types of "smart fluids" for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and drilling. In short, there are numerous areas in which nanotechnology can contribute to more efficient, less expensive, and more environmentally sound technologies. This paper provides an overview of the micro and nano technologies with a particular focus on nanotech-based solutions for the oil and gas and the broader energy industry. Recent developments in research in areas of significance to the oil and gas industry are briefly reviewed and include two case study examples. The potential opportunities and challenges that face future trends of nanotechnology applications in the oil and gas industry are also discussed.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of an innovative microcooling device for microelectronics applications. The device incorporates an active evaporative cooling surface, a polarization micropump, and temperature sensors into a single chip. The micropump provides the required pumping action to bring the working fluid to the evaporating surface, allowing the effective heat transfer coefficient through a thin-film evaporation/boiling process. The device is based on VLSI microfabrication technology, allowing the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) electrodes to be integrated directly onto the cooling surface. Since the EHD electrodes are fabricated using the same technology as the electronic systems themselves, the proposed microelectronic cooling system in the form of an integrated microchip is very suitable for mass production. The prototype devices demonstrated a maximum cooling capacity of 65 W/cm2 with a corresponding pumping head of 250 Pa. The results of this investigation will assist in the development of future microcooling devices capable of operating at high power levels.[554]

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This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a novel electrohydrodynamic (EHD) ion-drag micropump. In order to maximize the electrical field gradients that are responsible for EHD pumping, we incorporated three-dimensional (3-D) triangular bumps of solder as part of the EHD electrodes. To form these bumps, Niobium was sputter-deposited onto a ceramic substrate, coated with photoresist, optically exposed and etched using a reactive ion etcher to define the electrode pattern. The substrate was then "dipped" into a molten solder pool. Since the solder adheres only to the metallic film, bumps of solder form on the electrodes, giving the electrodes a significant 3-D character. The overall dimensions of the micropump are 19 mm 32 mm 1.05 mm. Four different designs were fabricated and tested. Static pressure tests were performed with a 3M Thermal Fluid (HFE-7100) as the working fluid and the optimum design was identified. The results with the thermal fluid were highly promising and indicated a pumping head of up to 700 Pa at an applied voltage of 300 V. The experimental results for the four different designs show that the presence of the 3-D bump structures significantly improves the pumping performance. Also, a much better pumping performance was obtained with the micropump in which the emitter had a saw-tooth shape.