Swelling Mechanism of Core–Shell Polymeric Nanoparticles and Their Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery for Low-Permeability Reservoirs

Abstract

Nanotechnology provides potential benefits for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in low-permeability reservoirs. In this paper, SiO2/P­(MBAAm-co-AM) composite nanoparticles were prepared using the distillation precipitation polymerization method. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the morphology and microstructure of nanoparticles. The swelling behavior of polymeric nanoparticles in brine was investigated to evaluate the effect of salinity and temperature. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses were employed to reveal the swelling mechanism. Displacement experiments were performed to investigate their performance in EOR in low-permeability reservoirs. The results show that the swelling ratio of SiO2/P­(MBAAm-co-AM) composite nanoparticles is higher at low salinity and high temperature, which can be explained by the Flory theory. The swelling process is spontaneous and endothermic, being controlled by physical adsorption involving the diffusion of water molecules, which complies with the first-order kinetics model. The suspension of SiO2/P­(MBAAm-co-AM) composite nanoparticles can improve incremental oil recovery from 10.28 to 21.97% with an increase of the swelled particle size from 580 to 1160 nm. It is feasible that core–shell polymeric nanoparticles can be used for EOR in low-permeability reservoirs.

Surface-Functionalized Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles (SPNs) for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Effects of Surface Modifiers and Their Architectures

“…Although recent drops in oil price due to the high supply of crude oil have hampered the exploration of new oil reserves, the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods is still desired to improve the production of oil from matured fields. 1−3 In a typical matured oil field, more than 50% of original oil in place (OOIP) is still unrecovered, and EOR via chemical injections is among the most applied methods to harvest the remaining oil. 4,5 Traditionally, various types of chemical injections can be used to recover oil from matured fields, i.e., polymers, surfactants, alkalis, or their binary/ternary mixtures.…”

“…The rapid increment in global population has led to a growing need for petroleum products, not only as fuels but also as an essential raw material for many industrial processes. Although recent drops in oil price due to the high supply of crude oil have hampered the exploration of new oil reserves, the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods is still desired to improve the production of oil from matured fields. − In a typical matured oil field, more than 50% of original oil in place (OOIP) is still unrecovered, and EOR via chemical injections is among the most applied methods to harvest the remaining oil. , Traditionally, various types of chemical injections can be used to recover oil from matured fields, i.e., polymers, surfactants, alkalis, or their binary/ternary mixtures. − In general, the objective of these chemical injections is primarily to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between oil and water. By having an ultralow IFT, the residual oil trapped in the porous media can easily be mobilized due to the generation of moving displacement front .…”

Preparation and Properties of Temperature-Sensitive P(NIPAM-AM) Nano–Microspheres in Enhanced Oil Recovery

“…The peak at 2931 cm –1 belongs to the presence of C–H stretching for methyl group and methylene groups. The stretching vibration absorptions of CO and C–N in the amide groups are observed at 1668 and 1198 cm –1 , respectively. , Significantly, the peak at 1619 cm –1 that belongs to CC signals does not appear, indicating that the double bonds disappear completely in the products and the reactants are polymerized completely.…”

Application of Nanoparticles in Stimulation: A Review

“…The use of NPs to mitigate these challenges is currently gaining attention. NPs have found several applications in the nonpetroleum and petroleum industries. − Different categories have been identified based on the physical and chemical properties . These include the carbon-based fullerenes and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the metal NPs made of the metals precursors, NPs of the alkali and noble metals (Cu, Ag, and Au), the ceramics NPs, which are inorganic nonmetallic solids, , semiconductor NPs, which possess properties between metals and nonmetals, and the polymeric organic-based NPs.…”