A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications

Chemicals are a pivotal part of many operations for the oil and gas industry. The purpose of chemical application in the subsurface reservoir is to decrease the mobility ratio between the displaced fluid and the displacing one or to increase the capillary number. These have been the favorable mechan...

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Main Authors: Jamil Fadi El-Masry, Kamel Fahmi Bou-Hamdan, Azza Hashim Abbas, Dmitriy A. Martyushev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/691
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author Jamil Fadi El-Masry
Kamel Fahmi Bou-Hamdan
Azza Hashim Abbas
Dmitriy A. Martyushev
author_facet Jamil Fadi El-Masry
Kamel Fahmi Bou-Hamdan
Azza Hashim Abbas
Dmitriy A. Martyushev
author_sort Jamil Fadi El-Masry
collection DOAJ
description Chemicals are a pivotal part of many operations for the oil and gas industry. The purpose of chemical application in the subsurface reservoir is to decrease the mobility ratio between the displaced fluid and the displacing one or to increase the capillary number. These have been the favorable mechanisms for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Recently, it became a mainstay with EOR researchers looking for effective and efficient materials that can be economically feasible and environmentally friendly. Therefore, when the development of chemicals reached a peak point by introducing nanosized materials, it was of wondrous interest in EOR. Unlike other sizes, nanoparticles display distinct physical and chemical properties that can be utilized for multiple applications. Therefore, vast amounts of nanoparticles were examined in terms of formulation, size effect, reservoir condition, viscosity, IFT, and wettability alteration. When a holistic understanding of nanoparticles is aimed, it is necessary to review the recent studies comprehensively. This paper reviews the most recently published papers for nanoparticles in oil in general, emphasizing EOR, where most of these publications are between the years 2018 and 2022. It covers a thorough comparison of using nanoparticles in different EOR techniques and the expected range of oil recovery improvements. Moreover, this paper highlights the gaps existing in the field-scale implementation of NPs in EOR and opens space for research and development. The findings of this review paper suggest that the selection of the best NPs type for an EOR application is critical to the reservoir rock properties and conditions, reservoir fluids type, EOR mechanism, chemicals type (surfactant/polymer/alkaline), chemicals concentration used in the flooding process, and NPs properties and concentration.
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spelling doaj.art-e4b10c75b7d64110b1e19eeffa3f8be72023-11-30T22:02:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-01-0116269110.3390/en16020691A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery ApplicationsJamil Fadi El-Masry0Kamel Fahmi Bou-Hamdan1Azza Hashim Abbas2Dmitriy A. Martyushev3Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department, Beirut Arab University, Debbieh 01270, LebanonChemical & Petroleum Engineering Department, Beirut Arab University, Debbieh 01270, LebanonSchool of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Oil and Gas Technologies, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, 614990 Perm, RussiaChemicals are a pivotal part of many operations for the oil and gas industry. The purpose of chemical application in the subsurface reservoir is to decrease the mobility ratio between the displaced fluid and the displacing one or to increase the capillary number. These have been the favorable mechanisms for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Recently, it became a mainstay with EOR researchers looking for effective and efficient materials that can be economically feasible and environmentally friendly. Therefore, when the development of chemicals reached a peak point by introducing nanosized materials, it was of wondrous interest in EOR. Unlike other sizes, nanoparticles display distinct physical and chemical properties that can be utilized for multiple applications. Therefore, vast amounts of nanoparticles were examined in terms of formulation, size effect, reservoir condition, viscosity, IFT, and wettability alteration. When a holistic understanding of nanoparticles is aimed, it is necessary to review the recent studies comprehensively. This paper reviews the most recently published papers for nanoparticles in oil in general, emphasizing EOR, where most of these publications are between the years 2018 and 2022. It covers a thorough comparison of using nanoparticles in different EOR techniques and the expected range of oil recovery improvements. Moreover, this paper highlights the gaps existing in the field-scale implementation of NPs in EOR and opens space for research and development. The findings of this review paper suggest that the selection of the best NPs type for an EOR application is critical to the reservoir rock properties and conditions, reservoir fluids type, EOR mechanism, chemicals type (surfactant/polymer/alkaline), chemicals concentration used in the flooding process, and NPs properties and concentration.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/691nanoparticlesnanomaterialsenhanced oil recoveryinterfacial tensionwettability alterationpolymer flooding
spellingShingle Jamil Fadi El-Masry
Kamel Fahmi Bou-Hamdan
Azza Hashim Abbas
Dmitriy A. Martyushev
A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
Energies
nanoparticles
nanomaterials
enhanced oil recovery
interfacial tension
wettability alteration
polymer flooding
title A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
title_full A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
title_fullStr A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
title_full_unstemmed A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
title_short A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications
title_sort comprehensive review on utilizing nanomaterials in enhanced oil recovery applications
topic nanoparticles
nanomaterials
enhanced oil recovery
interfacial tension
wettability alteration
polymer flooding
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/691
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