Fluorescent visualization of oil displacement in a microfluidic device for enhanced oil recovery applications

Bajgiran, Khashayar R.; Hymel, Hannah C.; Sombolestani, Shayan; Dante, Nathalie; Safa, Nora; Dorman, James; Rao, Dandina N.; Melvin, Adam T.

doi:10.1039/d1an01333e

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…NOA81 micromodels in the existing literature have been constructed in Hele-Shaw-type geometries (e.g., refs , , , and ), where fluid flow takes place between two parallel flat surfaces separated by a small gap. An alternative method of creating micromodels is by packing spherical beads between parallel plates − or in a tube. − This type of micromodel has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of multiphase flow in porous media.…”

Section: Extension Of Use Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

et al. 2023

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Wettability plays a significant role in controlling multiphase flow in porous media for many industrial applications, including geologic carbon dioxide sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, and fuel cells. Microfluidics is a powerful tool to study the complexities of interfacial phenomena involved in multiphase flow in well-controlled geometries. Recently, the thiolene-based polymer called NOA81 emerged as an ideal material in the fabrication of microfluidic devices, since it combines the versatility of conventional soft photolithography with a wide range of achievable wettability conditions. Specifically, the wettability of NOA81 can be continuously tuned through exposure to UV–ozone. Despite its growing popularity, the exact physical and chemical mechanisms behind the wettability alteration have not been fully characterized. Here, we apply different characterization techniques, including contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the impact of UV–ozone on the chemical and physical properties of NOA81 surfaces. We find that UV–ozone exposure increases the oxygen-containing polar functional groups, which enhances the surface energy and hydrophilicity of NOA81. Additionally, our AFM measurements show that spin-coated NOA81 surfaces have a roughness less than a nanometer, which is further reduced after UV–ozone exposure. Lastly, we extend NOA81 use cases by creating (i) 2D surface with controlled wettability gradient and (ii) a 3D column packed with monodisperse NOA81 beads of controlled size and wettability.

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Section: Extension Of Use Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the growing popularity of NOA81 in microfluidic studies (e.g., refs and − ), the physical and chemical mechanisms behind the UV–ozone-induced wettability alteration have not been characterized. Our work aims to fill this knowledge gap.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

et al. 2023

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“…NOA81 micromodels in the existing literature have been constructed in Hele-Shaw-type geometries (e.g., 25,33,35,36 ), where fluid flow takes place between two parallel flat surfaces separated by a small gap. An alternative method of creating micromodels is by packing spherical beads between parallel plates [55][56][57][58] or in a tube.…”

Section: Spherical Beads With Controlled Wettability and Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

“…24 Despite the growing popularity of NOA81 in microfluidic studies (e.g. [31][32][33][34][35][36] ), the physical and chemical mechanisms behind the UV-induced wettability alteration have not been characterized. Our work aims to fill this knowledge gap.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wettability alteration in thiolene-based polymer microfluidics: surface characterization and advanced fabrication techniques

Masouminia¹,

Dalnoki-Veress²,

Zhao³

2022

Preprint

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“…On the contrary, the microscopic visualization model could intuitively characterize the microscopic seepage mechanism of oil and gas. At present, the visualization models include an etched-glass and digital model from advanced imaging devices. − Yun et al (2020) established a glass-based micromodel to represent the carbonates and revealed the surfactant-assisted oil recovery mechanism . Song et al (2020) studied the effect of different CO 2 injection rates on CO 2 saturation and mobility using a two-dimensional homogeneous model .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Investigation of the CO₂ Flooding Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using a High-Temperature and -Pressure Visualization Apparatus

Gao

Luo

Xie³

et al. 2022

Energy Fuels

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The microscopic pore structure of tight sandstone reservoirs significantly impacts CO2 flooding characteristics. In this work, two types of realistic sandstone visualization models were selected based on petrophysical properties and the pore structure feature. CO2 flooding experiments under different injection pressures and volumes were carried out using the in-house high-temperature and -pressure visualization flooding system. Then, the characteristics of oil movement and residual oil distribution were quantitatively described and analyzed for two rock types. The results show that the type I model has better physical properties and a more favorable pore structure, thus a higher oil recovery than the type II model. The immiscible CO2 flooding efficiency of the type I model is up to 64.5%. On the other hand, the oil recovery of the type II model increases when the miscible pressure is reached, and the maximum oil recovery is 49.5%. In the high-pressure miscible flooding stage, two types of models have similar oil recovery increments, which are 10.7 and 10.6%, respectively. Additionally, the residual oil distribution varies with the pore structure. The type I model has a small residual oil region and thus a high oil recovery efficiency. In contrast, the residual oil saturation of the type II model is larger, and the final oil recovery decreases. Furthermore, as the injection pressure and volume increase, the residual oil saturation becomes smaller, and oil recovery of both models increases. The occurrence characteristics of residual oil are oil droplet, cluster-shaped residual oil, flake oil, and dead corner oil, and the main influencing factors are capillary force, injection pressure, and pore connectivity.

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Fluorescent visualization of oil displacement in a microfluidic device for enhanced oil recovery applications

Abstract: A microfluidic device was developed to mimic the reservoir pore-scale and track the oil/water phases during air flooding. The chip was generated by combining soft-lithography and NOA81 replication. A unique...

Cited by 4 publications

References 48 publications

Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

Wettability alteration in thiolene-based polymer microfluidics: surface characterization and advanced fabrication techniques

Experimental Investigation of the CO₂ Flooding Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using a High-Temperature and -Pressure Visualization Apparatus

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Fluorescent visualization of oil displacement in a microfluidic device for enhanced oil recovery applications

Abstract: A microfluidic device was developed to mimic the reservoir pore-scale and track the oil/water phases during air flooding. The chip was generated by combining soft-lithography and NOA81 replication. A unique...

Cited by 4 publications

References 48 publications

Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques

Wettability alteration in thiolene-based polymer microfluidics: surface characterization and advanced fabrication techniques

Experimental Investigation of the CO2 Flooding Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using a High-Temperature and -Pressure Visualization Apparatus

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Experimental Investigation of the CO₂ Flooding Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using a High-Temperature and -Pressure Visualization Apparatus