Oil production from depleted reservoirs in EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) techniques has significantly increased due to its huge demands in industrial energy sectors. Chemical EOR is one of the best approaches to extract the trapped oil. However, there are gaps to be addressed and studied well for quality and cost consideration in EOR techniques. Therefore, this paper addresses for the first time a systematic overview from alkaline surfactant polymer ((ASP)) and future perspectives of nano-alkaline surfactant polymer ((NASP)), its synergy effects on oil recovery improvement, and the main screening criteria for these chemicals. The previous findings have demonstrated that the optimum salinity, choosing the best concentration, using effective nano-surfactant, polymer and alkaline type, is guaranteed an ultra-low IFT (Interfacial Tension). Core flood results proved that the maximum oil is recovered by conjugating nanoparticles with conventional chemical EOR methods (surfactant, alkaline and polymer). This work adds a new insight and suggests new recommendation into the EOR application since, for the first time, it explores the role and effect of nanotechnology in a hybrid with ASP. The study illustrates detailed experimental design of using NASP and presents an optimum micro-model setup for future design of NASP flow distribution in the porous media. The presence of nano along with other chemicals increases the capillary number as well as the stability of chemicals in the solution and strengthens the effective mechanisms on the EOR.

The X-ray computed tomography method has provided unrivalled data about the characterization and evolution of the internal/external structure of materials by analyzing CTN and non-destructive imaging approach. Applying this method on the appropriate drilling-fluid ingredients plays a significant role in generating proper mud cake quality to stabilize wellbore, and avoid formation damage and filtration loss by preventing drilling fluid invasion into the formation. In this study, smart-water drilling mud containing different concentrations of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) was used to assess the filtration loss properties and formation impairment. Conventional static filter press, non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan images and high-resolution quantitative measurement of CT number method were used to estimate the filtrate volume and characterize the filter cake layers, hence evaluating the reservoir damage through hundreds of merged images. The CT scan data were combined with the HIPAX and Radiant viewer digital image processing. The variation in CT number of mud cake samples under different concentrations of MNPs and without MNPs concentration were analyzed, and hundreds of 3D images as a cross-sectional profile were used. This paper highlights the importance of MNPs property in terms of minimizing filtration volume and improving mud cake quality and thickness, and hence improving the wellbore stability. From the results, a notable reduction of filtrate drilling mud volume and mud cake thickness to 40.9% and 46.6%, respectively, were recorded for drilling fluids incorporated with 0.92 wt.% of MNPs. However, this study asserts that optimal MNPs should be implemented to guarantee the best filtration property. As confirmed from the results, increasing the MNPs concentration beyond the optimal value (up to 2 wt.%) increased the filtrate volume and mud cake thickness by 3.23 and 33.3%, respectively. CT scan profile images show two layers of mud cake produced from water-based drilling fluids possessing 0.92 wt.% MNPs. The latter concentration was found to be the optimal additive of MNPs as it caused a decrease in filtration volume, mud cake thickness, and pore spaces within the structure of the mud cake. Using the optimum MNPs, the CT number (CTN) shows a high CTN and density material, and uniform compacted thin mud cake structure (0.75 mm). The produced thin mud cake layer reveals the precipitation or exchange of elemental/mineral composition during fluid-solid interaction. These results confirm that MNPs could help in avoiding or reducing the formation damage, driving away drilling fluid from the formation, and improving borehole stability.

This study focuses on procedures to enhance permeability and flow rate for a low permeability formation by creating a conductive path using the hydraulic fracturing model. Well data are collected from the Qamchuqa KRG oil field formation. A Fracpro simulator is used for modelling the hydraulic fracturing process in an effective way. The study focuses on an effective hydraulic fracturing design procedure and the parameters affecting the fracture design. Optimum design of fracturing is achieved by selecting the proper fracturing fluid with a suitable proppant carried in a slurry, determining the formation fracturing pressure, selection of a fracture propagation fluid, and also a good proppant injection schedule, using a high pump rate and good viscosity. Permeability and conductivity are calculated before and after applying the hydraulic fracturing. Fracture height, length, and width are calculated from the Fracpro software, among other parameters, and the production rate changes. From the results, it is observed that by using hydraulic fracturing technology, production will increase and permeability will be much higher. The original formation permeability is 2.55 md, and after treatment, the average fracture conductivity has significantly increased to 1742.3 md-ft. The results showed that average fracture width is 0.187 inch. The proppant used in this treatment has a permeability of 122581 md. The suitable fluid choice is hyper with an apparent viscosity of 227.95 cp, and the proper proppant type is Brady sand with a conductivity of 2173.41 md-ft. Fracture orientation from the Khurmala oil field in Kurdistan is vertical fractures produced at a depth of 1868 m. Fracture half-length, total fracture height, and average fracture width are 220 ft, 42 ft, and 0.47 inch, respectively. After fracturing, the maximum and average area of fracture are 33.748 and 17.248 ft2, respectively. The recommended pump hydraulic horse power is 3200 HHP, and the total required fluid is 1076.3 bbl. In this study, hydraulic fracture is designed, and then, it has been analyzed after that production is optimized.

Drilling fluids are one of the most significant components of drilling operations for proper functions including fluid loss reduction into the formation and outstanding rheological properties. The drilling fluids according to environmental regulations and governmental rules have to be friendly to the environment to lessen the negative effects on the environment and improve safety. In the current study, a cost-effective industrial alkali waste (spent caustic) was used as a pH controller along with the environmentally friendly uncoated and Chitosan-coated green magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in water-based drilling fluid systems. The study focuses on exploring the impact of the alkali waste compared to the conventional alkali (NaOH) on rheology and filtration loss properties. The flow models of the drilling fluid systems were examined. The results proved that the drilling fluid formulated with polymer-coated green MNPs and waste alkali exhibited higher rheological properties and lower mud cake thickness and filtration volume compared to the reference fluid, thus, the waste alkali could replace NaOH as a pH controller. The flow behavior of new fluids could be described precisely using the Herschel-Bulkley flow model. Whereas, the Bingham plastic flow model described the fluid systems incorporated with uncoated and polymer-coated green NPs and NaOH.