Investigation of a new application for cellulose nanocrystals: a study of the enhanced oil recovery potential by use of a green additive

Molnes, Silje; Mamonov, Aleksandr; Paso, Kristofer; Strand, Skule; Syverud, Kristin

doi:10.1007/s10570-018-1715-5

Cited by 32 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Nanocellulose is an emerging new type of nanoparticle in the petroleum industry and little research exists on its applications for EOR. Preliminary results from oil recovery core floods using CNC particles dispersed in low salinity brine show that the particles have potential as an additive during waterflooding [ 10 ]. Experiments were conducted at 60 °C and 90 °C, where the CNC dispersion was injected after water flooding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, introduction of CNC particles into the porous media affects the fluid flow within the pores. CNC particles could therefore improve microscopic and macroscopic sweep efficiencies through flow diversion [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, there were some indications that some of the CNC particles were trapped inside the pore matrix, which is a common phenomenon when dealing with polymers [ 12 ]. Another study performed by Molnes et al [ 10 ] tested injection of CNC in Berea sandstone at different temperatures (60, 90 and 120 °C). These results also showed that the particles traversed the core, but some of the particles were retained at the core inlet [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Aadland

Dziuba

Heggset³

et al. 2018

Nanomaterials

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The application of nanotechnology to the petroleum industry has sparked recent interest in increasing oil recovery, while reducing environmental impact. Nanocellulose is an emerging nanoparticle that is derived from trees or waste stream from wood and fiber industries. Thus, it is taken from a renewable and sustainable source, and could therefore serve as a good alternative to current Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technologies. However, before nanocellulose can be applied as an EOR technique, further understanding of its transport behavior and retention in porous media is required. The research documented in this paper examines retention mechanisms that occur during nanocellulose transport. In a series of experiments, nanocellulose particles dispersed in brine were injected into sandpacks and Berea sandstone cores. The resulting retention and permeability reduction were measured. The experimental parameters that were varied include sand grain size, nanocellulose type, salinity, and flow rate. Under low salinity conditions, the dominant retention mechanism was adsorption and when salinity was increased, the dominant retention mechanism shifted towards log-jamming. Retention and permeability reduction increased as grain size decreased, which results from increased straining of nanocellulose aggregates. In addition, each type of nanocellulose was found to have significantly different transport properties. Experiments with Berea sandstone cores indicate that some pore volume was inaccessible to the nanocellulose. As a general trend, the larger the size of aggregates in bulk solution, the greater the observed retention and permeability reduction. Salinity was found to be the most important parameter affecting transport. Increased salinity caused additional aggregation, which led to increased straining and filter cake formation. Higher flow rates were found to reduce retention and permeability reduction. Increased velocity was accompanied by an increase in shear, which is believed to promote breakdown of nanocellulose aggregates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Aadland

Dziuba

Heggset³

et al. 2018

Nanomaterials

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“…Nanocellulose is an emerging new type of nanoparticle in the petroleum industry and little research exists on its applications for EOR. Preliminary results from oil recovery core floods using CNC particles dispersed in low salinity brine show that the particles have potential as a green additive during waterflooding [10]. Experiments were conducted at 60 °C and 90 °C, where the CNC dispersion was injected after water flooding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, introduction of CNC particles into the porous media affects the fluid flow within the pores. CNC particles could therefore improve the microscopic and macroscopic sweep efficiencies through flow diversion [10]. Wei et al [11] conducted EOR experiments on two types of modified cellulose nanofibrils with different charge densities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Aadland

Dziuba

Heggset³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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The application of nanotechnology to the petroleum industry has sparked recent interest to increase oil recovery while reducing environmental impact. Nanocellulose is an emerging nanoparticle that is derived from trees and may provide an environmentally friendly alternative to current enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies. However, before nanocellulose can be applied as an EOR technique, further understanding of its transport behavior and retention in porous media is required. The research documented in this paper examines retention mechanisms that occur during nanocellulose transport. In a series of experiments, nanocellulose particles dispersed in brine were injected into sandpacks and Berea sandstone cores. The resulting retention and permeability reduction were measured. The experimental parameters that were varied include sand grain size, nanocellulose type, salinity, and flow rate. Under low salinity conditions, the dominant retention mechanism was adsorption and when salinity was increased, the dominant retention mechanism shifted towards log-jamming. Retention and permeability reduction increased as grain size decreased, which results from increased straining of nanocellulose aggregates. In addition, each type of nanocellulose was found to have significantly different transport properties. The experiments with Berea sandstone cores indicate that some pore volume was inaccessible to the nanocellulose. As a general trend, the larger the size of aggregates in bulk solution, the greater the observed retention and permeability reduction. Salinity was found to be the most important parameter affecting transport. Increased salinity caused additional aggregation, which led to increased straining and filter cake formation. Higher flow rates were found to reduce retention and permeability reduction. Increased velocity was accompanied by an increase in shear which is believed to promote breakdown of nanocellulose aggregates.

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Rheological Aspects of Cellulose Nanomaterials: Governing Factors and Emerging Applications

et al. 2021

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of nanomaterials from green, low-cost, abundant, renewable, and biodegradable natural resources. One such attractive bioresource is cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on earth, which is widely present in various forms of renewable biomass, such as trees, plants, tunicates, and bacteria.Structurally, cellulose is a linear, high molecular weight polysaccharide with repeating glucose units linked by 1-4 glycosidic bonds. Owing to the presence of hydroxyl groups, those linear chains of glucose units link together through van der Waals forces and intermolecular hydrogen bonding to form elementary fibrils, which are further packed into larger aggregates known as microfibrils. [3] Cellulose fibrils consist of disordered (amorphous) regions and highly ordered (crystalline) regions. In the crystalline regions, cellulose chains are closely packed together in highly ordered fashion (parallel to the direction of fibril length), dictated by the intricate intraand intermolecular hydrogen bonding; whereas in the amorphous regions, cellulose chain stacking is less ordered and not as closely packed. Therefore, the amorphous regions are more vulnerable to both physical disintegration and chemical hydrolysis in comparison with crystalline regions. When cellulose is prepared in nano-scale fibrillar or crystalline forms, it is broadly referred to as cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs).The isolation, characterization, modification, and application of CNMs are currently receiving much attention. Understanding Cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs), mainly including nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), have attained enormous interest due to their sustainability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nanoscale dimensions, large surface area, facile modification of surface chemistry, as well as unique optical, mechanical, and rheological performance. One of the most fascinating properties of CNMs is their aqueous suspension rheology, i.e., CNMs helping create viscous suspensions with the formation of percolation networks and chemical interactions (e.g., van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction/repulsion, and hydrophobic attraction). Under continuous shearing, CNMs in an aqueous suspension can align along the flow direction, producing shear-thinning behavior. At rest, CNM suspensions regain some of their initial structure immediately, allowing rapid recovery of rheological properties. These unique flow features enable CNMs to serve as rheological modifiers in a wide range of fluid-based applications. Herein, the dependence of the rheology of CNM suspensions on test protocols, CNM inherent properties, suspension environments, and postprocessing is systematically described. A critical overview of the recent progress on fluid applications of CNMs as rheology modifiers in some emerging industrial sectors is presented as well. Future perspectives in the field are outlined to guide further research and development in using CNMs as the next generation rheological modifiers.

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Investigation of a new application for cellulose nanocrystals: a study of the enhanced oil recovery potential by use of a green additive

Cited by 32 publications

References 41 publications

Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Identification of Nanocellulose Retention Characteristics in Porous Media

Rheological Aspects of Cellulose Nanomaterials: Governing Factors and Emerging Applications

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