Polymer Integrated Silica Nanofluid Synthesis: Unveiling new frontiers of Performance Enhancement in EOR

Abstract

Various enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are widely used in today’s oil fields. These EOR methods facilitates in retrieving the additional oil more prominently than primary and secondary methods. However, proficient knowledge about efficient fluid displacement, distribution and analysis of porosity and permeability of the reservoir is essential to conduct these EOR methods in the field. Various researches on nanoparticles for EOR are being conducted and in this research, we dive into the polymer integrated silica nanofluid and it’s potential.

The research is based on synthesizing silica nanofluids (SiNF) instead of purchasing commercially. Sol-Gel method was used to synthesize SiNF for this experiment. After synthesis the paper employs Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to measure zeta potential and particle size - crucial for nanofluid stability. Once stability is achieved, the study evaluates the nanofluid's effectiveness in EOR through a progressive series of tests measuring wettability, surface tension, and interfacial tension (IFT). Detailed analysis of the collected data underscores the efficiency of this innovative approach, marking it as a highly promising advancement in the field. Subsequent Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests further corroborate the potential of the nano particles. Further the Rheology analysis helps us understand the change in viscosity and viscoelastic properties which give the potential for improve oil recovery by altering the flow characteristics. Overall, the wealth of data amassed promises to provide invaluable insights that could revolutionize EOR practices.