Numerical simulation of the oil displacement process from a porous medium by nanofluid

Abstract

Numerical simulation of the oil displacement process from a porous medium by nanofluid was carried out. To describe this process a flow model of two immiscible fluids taking into account the surface tension forces and the wetting angle was used. The simulation results of the penetration of fluid with nanoparticles into a porous medium are obtained using the example of the oil displacement. The nanoparticles addition to the displacing fluid affects the process of oil displacement from porous medium significantly. SiO2 particles with a size of 5 nm were used as nanoparticles. The concentration of nanoparticles ranged from 0 to 1 wt.%. The main reason for the increase in ORF (oil recovery factor) during oil displacement by nanofluid is the improvement of rock wetting.