Foam stability using silica coated nanoparticle for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract

A mixture of nanoparticles and water can be used in the nano-water alternating gas approach (NWAG) to enhance oil recovery from an oil field. Now, the wettability of rock, relative permeability curves, and the interfacial tension analyzed for improvement of the operation. With an approach application, nanoparticles became importance over the last decade but the activity of using nanoparticles is practically unknown. A major stumbling-block to the success of foam application in EOR is the adverse influence of oil on foam stability. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of various surfactant, nanoparticle concentration as well as hydrocarbons with well-defined properties on foam stability. Orderly, a comprehensive series of experiments at static state is conducted to investigate the foam stability of five different concentrations for surfactant and nanoparticle respectively in the absence and presence of mineral oil and synthetic brine suspension. The results suggested that there is a significant impact of the concentration of the surfactant and nanoparticle on foam stability. Besides, results suggested that less stable foam is shown in the presence of oil as compare to brine solution. The addition of half life method shows the promising result on the use of nanoparticles as foam stabilizer.