Performance of Silica Nanoparticles in CO2-Foam for EOR and CCUS at Tough Reservoir Conditions

Abstract

We show experimentally that surface treated silica nanoparticles greatly enhance the thermodynamic stability of CO2-foam compared to other foam stabilizers at elevated temperatures and salinities in the presence of oil. The aqueous nanofluid mixes with CO2 in the porous media to generate CO2-foam for enhanced oil recovery by improved sweep efficiency, resulting in reduced carbon footprint from oil production. Our results show that surface modified nanoparticles are able to stabilize CO2-foam at elevated temperatures and extreme brine salinities, and demonstrate that nanoparticle injection for improved CO2-foam mobility is an upcoming CCUS technology for mature fields. New experimental results show that 1) nanofluids remain stable at extreme salinities (up to 25 wt% TDS) with the presence of both monovalent and divalent ions; 2) both pressure gradient and incremental oil recovery during tertiary CO2-foam injections were 2 - 4 times higher with nanoparticles compared to no foaming agent; 3) CO2 stored during CCUS with nanoparticle stabilized CO2-foam increased by over 300% compared to co-injections without nanoparticles.

Foam Stability Enhanced Technology For Mobility Control Of CO2 EOR

“…Nanoparticles have been investigated to stabilize foam by many researchers Ibrahim et al 2017;San et al 2017;Nazari et al 2018;Razali et al 2018;Rognmo et al 2018).…”

Surfactant–Nanoparticle Foam to Increase CO2 Storage in High-Salinity Carbonate Reservoirs

“…Chen et al reported that the cationic surfactant ethoxylate alkyl amine is a good foaming agent for carbonate reservoir and can be used at high temperature (120 °C) and high salinity (up to 180,000 ppm) conditions. Many nonionic surfactants are applicable in moderate temperature and salinity because of low cloud points, at which head groups of nonionic surfactants tend to dehydrate and precipitate. , Rognmo et al , investigated CO 2 -foam enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in carbonate reservoirs, as well as its potential for CO 2 storage using a nonionic surfactant. Chen et al reported that a highly ethoxylated nonionic surfactant can generate stable foam at 111 °C with 30 g/L NaCl.…”