Microscopic Mechanical Model Analysis and Visualization Investigation of SiO₂ Nanoparticle/HPAM Polymer Foam Liquid Film Displacing Heavy Oil

Abstract

In this paper, the microscopic mechanisms and macroscopic characteristics of polymer/nanoparticle foam flooding in a heavy oil reservoir environment were studied. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant was used as the foaming agent, and the foam was prepared by a combination of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer and SiO2 nanoparticles. By performing experiments with the microscopic model, the foam flooding dynamics in the heavy oil reservoir were simulated. Based on the experiments, the formula model was established to evaluate the physicochemical effects between the foam liquid film and oil surface. Finally, the macroscopic characteristics of foam flooding were studied by performing oil displacement experiments with a 2D visual model. The microscopic experiments demonstrated that the foam liquid film could exert multiple actions, such as adsorption, stretching, and cutting on the heavy oil in the reservoir pores. These actions were accompanied by force changes between the foam and heavy oil, and the addition of polymer and nanoparticles further strengthened them. The calculations of the formula model indicated that the polymer and nanoparticles amplified the force between the foam liquid film and heavy oil by 1.95 and 2.2 times, respectively. The 2D visual model experiments suggested that foam flooding could further develop heavy oil after water flooding through its liquid film effects, and the oil recovery efficiency increased from 42.43 to 57.82%. In addition, the polymer and nanoparticles further optimized the oil displacement effect of the foam liquid film, which made the oil recovery efficiency reach 64.77–68.16%.

Application of Flue Gas Foam-Assisted Steam Flooding in Complex and Difficult-to-Produce Heavy Oil Reservoirs

“…As shown in Figure , the research results show that at the same temperature, the dissolved gas–oil ratio of multicomponent gases gradually increases with the increase of pressure, and the increase is nearly linear. However, under the same pressure, the dissolved gas–oil ratio gradually decreases with the increase of temperature because the molecular motion of multicomponent gases is intensified under high-temperature conditions, which is not conducive to its dissolution − in heavy oil.…”

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Effect of Polyacrylamide on Electric Field Demulsification of Oil-in-Water Emulsion

“…As a water flooding additive, the HPAM polymer has been widely reported in laboratory research and field application in conventional oil recovery. In addition, studies have shown that the combination of polymer flooding technology and horizontal wells in heavy oil reservoirs has potential applicability. − Gu et al used a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant as a foaming agent to prepare foam by combining the HPAM polymer with SiO 2 nanoparticles. Through a microscopic model experiment, the foam driving mechanics of a heavy oil reservoir are simulated.…”

Interfacial Behaviors and Oil Detachment Mechanisms by Modified Silica Nanoparticles: Insights from Molecular Simulations

“…To tackle the challenges associated with surfactant flooding, the utilization of nanoparticles has recently been proposed due to their distinctive properties. , Nanoparticles, characterized by their nanometer-scale size (1–100 nm) and large surface area, possess unique physical and chemical attributes that make them well-suited for the application in chemical EOR. − Recently, researchers have conducted extensive experimental investigations to assess the performance of various nanoparticles in the field of EOR. For instance, Olayiwola and Dejam conducted experimental analyses to examine the mechanism of injecting nanoparticles, low salinity water (LSW), and surfactants into sandstone reservoirs to enhance oil recovery.…”