An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids
The underlying effect of preflush salinity and silica nanofluid (Si-NF) on oil production is examined. The influence of salinity on the stability of Si-NFs is studied. A series of sand-pack floodings evaluating oil production was conducted at different concentrations of preflush salinity (0 to 4 wt....
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/6922 |
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| author | Tola Sreu Kyuro Sasaki Yuichi Sugai Ronald Nguele |
| author_facet | Tola Sreu Kyuro Sasaki Yuichi Sugai Ronald Nguele |
| author_sort | Tola Sreu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The underlying effect of preflush salinity and silica nanofluid (Si-NF) on oil production is examined. The influence of salinity on the stability of Si-NFs is studied. A series of sand-pack floodings evaluating oil production was conducted at different concentrations of preflush salinity (0 to 4 wt.%), followed by the injection of a Si-NF (0.5 wt.%) at the trail of which postflush water was injected. The effluent water and solids were collected and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle measurements were conducted on the Si-NF in the presence of salinity to confirm the effect. The Si-NF became unstable and formed precipitate in the presence of salinity. The sand-pack flooding showed that when the preflush salinity was increased, the displacement efficiency (<i>E<sub>D</sub></i>) using the Si-NF and postflush injection was increased (<i>E<sub>D</sub></i> = 44%). The XRF of the precipitated effluent revealed that the preflush salinity and Si-NF caused mineral leaching, which triggered pore clogging. The IFT value reduced from 13.3 to 8.2 mN/m, and the wettability was altered to be more strongly water-wet when the salinity increased. The primary mechanisms of oil recovery using the Si-NF after preflush salinity is attributed mainly to the clogging mechanism. This clogging helps block the high-perm area, shift the fluid flow to the oil-trapped zone, and free the oil out. Other contribution mechanisms are IFT reduction and wettability alteration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:03:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6cf64fd8415b4c1d93cb932083ae2966 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:03:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-6cf64fd8415b4c1d93cb932083ae29662023-11-22T20:40:54ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-10-011421692210.3390/en14216922An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based NanofluidsTola Sreu0Kyuro Sasaki1Yuichi Sugai2Ronald Nguele3Resources Production and Safety Engineering Laboratory, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanResources Production and Safety Engineering Laboratory, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanResources Production and Safety Engineering Laboratory, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanResources Production and Safety Engineering Laboratory, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanThe underlying effect of preflush salinity and silica nanofluid (Si-NF) on oil production is examined. The influence of salinity on the stability of Si-NFs is studied. A series of sand-pack floodings evaluating oil production was conducted at different concentrations of preflush salinity (0 to 4 wt.%), followed by the injection of a Si-NF (0.5 wt.%) at the trail of which postflush water was injected. The effluent water and solids were collected and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle measurements were conducted on the Si-NF in the presence of salinity to confirm the effect. The Si-NF became unstable and formed precipitate in the presence of salinity. The sand-pack flooding showed that when the preflush salinity was increased, the displacement efficiency (<i>E<sub>D</sub></i>) using the Si-NF and postflush injection was increased (<i>E<sub>D</sub></i> = 44%). The XRF of the precipitated effluent revealed that the preflush salinity and Si-NF caused mineral leaching, which triggered pore clogging. The IFT value reduced from 13.3 to 8.2 mN/m, and the wettability was altered to be more strongly water-wet when the salinity increased. The primary mechanisms of oil recovery using the Si-NF after preflush salinity is attributed mainly to the clogging mechanism. This clogging helps block the high-perm area, shift the fluid flow to the oil-trapped zone, and free the oil out. Other contribution mechanisms are IFT reduction and wettability alteration.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/6922enhanced oil recoverysand-pack floodingsilica nanofluidprecipitationsedimentationsaline water |
| spellingShingle | Tola Sreu Kyuro Sasaki Yuichi Sugai Ronald Nguele An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids Energies enhanced oil recovery sand-pack flooding silica nanofluid precipitation sedimentation saline water |
| title | An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids |
| title_full | An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids |
| title_fullStr | An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids |
| title_short | An Experimental Study of the Influence of the Preflush Salinity on Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Silica-Based Nanofluids |
| title_sort | experimental study of the influence of the preflush salinity on enhanced oil recovery using silica based nanofluids |
| topic | enhanced oil recovery sand-pack flooding silica nanofluid precipitation sedimentation saline water |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/21/6922 |
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