Annual Energy Outlook 2008 With Projections to 2030

Towards hybrid nanofluids: Preparation, thermophysical properties, applications, and challenges

Despite the progress made on renewable energy, oil and gas remains the world’s primary energy source. Meanwhile, large amounts of oil deposits remain unrecovered after application of traditional oil recovery methods. Chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has been adjudged as an efficient oil recovery technique to recover bypassed oil and residual oil trapped in the reservoir. This EOR method relies on the injection of chemicals to boost oil recovery. In this overview, an up-to-date synopsis of chemical EOR with detailed explanation of the chemicals used, and the mechanism governing their oil recovery application have been discussed. Challenges encountered in the application of the various conventional chemical EOR methods were highlighted, and solutions to overcome the challenges were proffered. Besides, the recent trend of incorporating nanotechnology and their synergistic effects on conventional chemicals stability and efficiency for EOR were also explored and analysed. Finally, laboratory results and field projects were outlined. The review of experimental studies shows that pore-scale mechanisms of conventional chemical EOR is enhanced by incorporating nanotechnology, hence, resulted in higher efficiency. Moreover, the use of ionic liquid chemicals and novel alkaline–cosolvent–polymer technology shows good potentials. This overview presents an extensive information about chemical EOR applications for sustainable energy production.

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An overview of chemical enhanced oil recovery: recent advances and prospects

A comprehensive review on interaction of nanoparticles with low salinity water and surfactant for enhanced oil recovery in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs

The synergistic effects of nanoparticle-surfactant nanofluids in EOR applications

Wettability remains a prime factor that controls fluid displacement at pore-scale with substantial impact on multi-phase flow in the subsurface. As the rock surface becomes hydrophobic, any oleic phase present is tightly stored in the rock matrix and produced (hydrocarbon recovery) or cleaned up (soil-decontamination) by standard waterflooding methods. Although surface active agents such as surfactants have been used for several decades for changing the wetting states of such rocks, an aspect that has been barely premeditated is the simultaneous blends of surfactants and nanoparticles. This study thus, systematically reports the behaviour of surfactants augmented nanoparticles on wettability alteration. Contact angle, spontaneous imbibition, and mechanistic approaches were adopted to assess the technical feasibility of the newly formulated wetting agents, tested over wide-ranging conditions to ascertain efficient wetting propensities. The contact angle measurement is in good agreement with the morphological and topographical studies and spontaneous imbibition. The wetting trends for the formulated systems indicate advancing and receding water contact angle decreased with increase in nanoparticle concentration and temperature, and the spontaneous water imbibition test also showed faster water-imbibing tendencies for nanoparticle-surfactant exposed cores. Thus, the new formulated nanoparticle-surfactant systems were considered suitable for enhancing oil recovery and soil-decontamination, particularly in fractured hydrophobic reservoirs.

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Wettability alteration of oil-wet limestone using surfactant-nanoparticle formulation

Nanoparticles influence on wetting behaviour of fractured limestone formation

Nanofluids for Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes: Wettability Alteration Using Zirconium Oxide

Retention of Silica Nanoparticles in Limestone Porous Media

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes are well known for their efficiency in incre‐ menting oil production; however, the selection of the most suitable method to adopt for specific field applications is challenging. Hence, this chapter presents an overview of different EOR techniques currently applied in oil fields, the opportunities associated with these techniques, key technological advancements to guide the decision‐making process for optimum applicability and productivity and a brief review of field applications.

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Lezorgia N. Nwidee

Papers

Wettability alteration of oil-wet limestone using surfactant-nanoparticle formulation

Nanoparticles influence on wetting behaviour of fractured limestone formation

Nanofluids for Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes: Wettability Alteration Using Zirconium Oxide

Retention of Silica Nanoparticles in Limestone Porous Media

EOR Processes, Opportunities and Technological Advancements