The impact of viscoelastic nanofluids on the oil droplet remobilization in porous media: An experimental approach

Abstract

Polymer nanohybrids have displayed great potential in remobilizing oil droplets through porous media. This research aims at providing some insights into how the hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer and Al2O3 nanoparticles’ (NPs) hybrid can push crude oil toward the producers. An understanding of what the hybrid viscosity is when flowing through porous rocks was acquired by the rheological tests. Using the Du Noüy ring method, the interfacial tension (IFT) between the polymer nanohybrid and crude oil was studied. Contact angle experiments were employed to assess the ability of hybrid in reversing surface wettability. The results show that the hybrid can yield a 12% higher shear viscosity than the HPAM solution and the viscosity improvement dramatically depends on NPs’ concentration and temperature. With more than a 23% drop in the contact angle value, the results of contact angle experiments reveal the capability of the Al2O3 NPs in altering surface wettability. The measured IFT between hybrid and crude oil at different temperatures demonstrates that the adsorption of NPs on the oil–aqueous phase interface can significantly improve the capillary number. This article not only presents the underlying mechanisms of oil recovery during hybrid flooding but also provides a new reference for formulating a novel hybrid agent.

Flow Behavior through Porous Media and Displacement Performance of a SILICA/PAM Nanohybrid: Experimental and Numerical Simulation Study

“…Experimental studies have shown that incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) can improve the rheological properties of the displacing fluid − and reduce the degradation effect of salinity and temperature on polymer solutions ,− and the polymer adsorption onto the rock surface. − According to results presented by Abdullahi et al and Maghzi et al, the NPs prevent the electrical shielding effect caused by the presence of cations in the polymer solution because the ion–dipole interactions occur between the cations and the oxygen on the NP surface instead of the cations and the amide groups of the polymer molecules. The improvement of the rheological properties of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solutions following NP incorporation has been attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional network in which different polymer chains are cross-linked by NPs. − Few studies on the flow behavior of polymer nanohybrids through porous media have been reported.…”

Synthesis and Characterization of New Nanohybrids Based on Carboxymethyl Scleroglucan and Silica Nanoparticles

“…Nanopolymer flooding has gained attention in the last decade because nanoparticles (NPs) can improve polymers’ thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition, NPs have shown the ability to enhance oil recovery by changing the wettability of porous media and reducing the oil–water interfacial tension [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Two methods are used to incorporate NPs in polymers: (I) the NPs can be dispersed in the polymer solution, and (II) the polymer chains can be covalently bonded to the NPs’ surface.…”