Review of Developments in Nanotechnology Application for Formation Damage Control

Abstract

Formation damage has the potential to impair and weaken reservoir productivity and injectivity, causing substantial economic losses. Oil and gas wells can be damaged by various mechanisms, such as solid invasion, rock–fluid incompatibilities, fluid–fluid incompatibilities, and phase trapping/blocking, which can reduce natural permeability of oil and gas near the wellbore zone. These can happen during most field operations, including drilling operations, completion, production, stimulation, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Numerous studies have been undertaken in recent years on the application of nanotechnology to aid the control of formation damage. This review has found that nanotechnology is more successful than traditional materials in controlling formation damages in different phases of oil and gas development. This is facilitated by their small size and high surface area/volume ratio, which increase reactivity and interactivity to the adjacent materials/surfaces. Furthermore, adding hydrophilic nanoparticles (0.05 wt %) to surfactants during EOR alters their wettability from 15 to 33%. Wettability alteration capabilities of nanoparticles are also exemplified by carbonate rock from oil-wet to water-wet after the concentration of 4 g/L silica nanoparticles is added. In addition, mixing nanoparticles to the drilling fluid reduced 70% of fluid loss. However, the mechanisms of impairment of conductivity in shale/tight formations are not consistent and can differ from one formation to another as a result of a high level of subsurface heterogeneity. Thus, the reactivity and interaction of nanoparticles in these shale/tight formations have not been clearly explained, and a recommendation is made for further investigations. We also recommend more nanotechnology field trials for future research because deductions from current studies are insufficient. This review provides more insights on the applications of nanoparticles in different stages of oil and gas development, increasing our understanding on the measures to control formation damage.

A state-of-the-art review and prospect of gas hydrate reservoir drilling techniques

“…On the one hand, it has been discovered that drilling fluid with nanoparticles has a tiny particle size and a large surface area, which has a promising future. The nanomaterials can effectively seal the pore throat of the reservoir and enhance the stability of the wellbore, thus realizing the role of reservoir protection (Ngata et al, 2022;Zamora-Ledezma et al, 2022). On the other hand, the drilling fluid with polymers has also become one of the most widely used drilling fluid systems after years of development.…”

Minireview of Formation Damage Control through Nanotechnology Utilization at Fieldwork Conditions

“…1−3 These operations allow foreign fluid to infiltrate the formation, resulting in an interaction between the foreign fluid and the formation fluid or the foreign fluid and the formation rock, which can cause formation damage, lowering well productivity and inflicting significant economic losses. 4,5 To minimize and manage the degree of formation damage in various types of reservoirs, several researchers have conducted experiments and studies regarding formation damage mitigations. 6−9 For many years, formation damage has been regarded as a challenge in the oil and gas industry and has become a focal point of research.…”

“…They applied nanotechnology in EOR, water shutoff, dewatering, and improvement of production in heavy oil, and their results were based on the oil production rate. Ngata et al, 5 on the other hand, studied the deployment of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry to control formation damage. Their research showed that nanotechnology can be applied during drilling, completion, EOR, and stimulation.…”

“…Formation damage is an undesirable phenomenon in the oil and gas industry that can have an impact on the overall performance of the field during drilling, completion, stimulation, EOR, and workover operations. − These operations allow foreign fluid to infiltrate the formation, resulting in an interaction between the foreign fluid and the formation fluid or the foreign fluid and the formation rock, which can cause formation damage, lowering well productivity and inflicting significant economic losses. , To minimize and manage the degree of formation damage in various types of reservoirs, several researchers have conducted experiments and studies regarding formation damage mitigations. − For many years, formation damage has been regarded as a challenge in the oil and gas industry and has become a focal point of research. , This formation damage is linked to the action of clay minerals such as swelling and deflocculation, solid particle invasion, fine migration and generation, and sand and asphaltene deposition, all of which can cause formation damage, resulting in changes in porosity and permeability, as well as a considerable reduction in oil production. , …”

flow assurance problems in the geo-energy industry: microbial influenced corrosion, and precipitation of clays in reservoir acid stimulation

“…Formation damage can impair and reduce reservoir performance and consequently cause substantial economic losses. Formation damage is brought by several mechanisms such as solid invasion, and poor compatibility of either rock and fluid or fluid and fluid (Ngata et al, 2021). Formation damage begins immediately when drilling operations begins and continues during the productive life of the well.…”