The Effect of a Novel Surface Modified Nanoparticles on Wettability Alteration and Enhanced Oil Recovery

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of petroleum Engineering, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

Abstract

Recently, nano-fluids (N-fluids) have emerged as cost-effective and efficient materials for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In this context, N-fluids have shown significant potential in altering the wettability of carbonate rocks and reducing the interfacial tension between oil and water. In this study, titanium dioxide was synthesized and surface-modified using a specific approach. The synthetic solution was then prepared synergistically with engineered low-salinity water. Generally, in previous studies, changes in wettability and interfacial tension in the presence of synthetic N-fluids did not result in substantial changes in contact angle and interfacial tension. However, in this study, the greatest change in contact angle and interfacial tension was achieved through an innovative surface modification approach, indicating the presence of effective compounds within the N-fluid structure. TEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses were employed to confirm the structure of the surface-modified N-particles. To investigate the effect of synthetic N-fluids on oil recovery, contact angle measurements, interfacial tension evaluations, and core flooding tests were conducted. In the presence of synthetic N-fluid, the interfacial tension (IFT) decreased from 19.88 mN/m (reference value) to 2.8 mN/m, and the contact angle reduced from the initial value to 26°. The results demonstrated a significant hydrophilic wettability change for the core rock.

Keywords

References

[1] Ali, J.A., Kolo, K., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Stephen, K.D., 2021, Emerging applications of TiO2/SiO2/poly (acrylamide) nanocomposites within the engineered water EOR in carbonate reservoirs, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 322, 114943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.114943
[2] Jafarbeigi, E., Mohammadidoust, A, Ranjbar, B., 2022, A review on applications of nanoparticles in the enhanced oil recovery in car­bonate reservoirs, Petroleum Science and Technology, 40(11), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2022.2030358
[3] Ahmadi, Y., Akbari, A., Mansouri, M., Alibak, A.H., Vaferi, B., 2024, Innovative xanthan gum-based nanocomposites for asphaltene precipitation prevention in shale and carbonate rocks‏, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 280, 136331‏. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136331
[4] Nazarahari, M.J., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Moradi, S., Shafiei, A., Ali, J.A., Sajadi, S.M., Keshavarz, A., 2020, Synthesis, Characterization, and Assessment of a CeO2@Nanoclay Nanocomposite for Enhanced Oil Recovery, Nanomaterials, 10(11), 2280. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112280
[5] Mirzavandi, M., Ali, J.A., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Majeed, B., Mahmood, B.S., Mohammadi, A.H., Iglauer, S., Keshavarz, A., 2023, Performance Evaluation of Silica–Graphene Quantum Dots for Enhanced Oil Recovery from Carbonate Reservoirs, Energy & Fuels, 37(2), 955-964. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c05872
[6] Saghandali, F., Salehi, M.B., Pahlevani, H., Taghikhani, V., Riahi, S., Ebrahimi, M., Saviz, S., Roomi, A., 2024, Fabrication of a hydrogel reinforced with titanium nanoparticles to reduce fine migration and remediation of formation damage during low-salinity water flooding, Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 241, 213173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2024.213173
[7] Jha, N.K., Ali, M., Iglauer, S., Lebedev, M., Roshan, H., Barifcani, A., Sangwai, J.S., Sarmadivaleh, M., 2019, Wettability alteration of quartz surface by low-salinity surfactant nanofluids at high-pressure and high-temperature conditions, Energy Fuels, 33, 7062–7068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01102
[8] Jha, N.K., Iglauer, S., Barifcani, A., Sarmadivaleh, M., Sangwai, J.S., 2019, Low-salinity surfactant nanofluid formulations for wettability alteration of sandstone: role of the SiO2 nanoparticle concentration and divalent cation/SO42 – ratio, Energy Fuels, 33, 739–746. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b03406
[9] Xu, Z.X., Li, S.Y., Li, B.F., Chen, D.Q., Liu, Z.Y., Li, Z.M., 2020, A review of development methods and EOR technologies for carbonate reservoirs, Petroleum Science, 17(4), 990–1013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-020-00467-5
[10] Katende, A., Sagala, F., 2019, A critical review of low salinity water flooding: mechanism, laboratory and field application, Journal of Molecular Liquids., 278, 627–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.01.037
[11] Mariyate, J, Bera, A., 2021, Recent progresses of microemulsions-based nanofluids as a potential tool for enhanced oil recovery, Fuel, 306, 121640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121640
[12] Sun, X.F., Zhang, Y.Y., Chen, G.P., Gai, Z.Y., 2017, Application of nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery: a critical review of recent progress, Energies, 10(3), 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/en10030345
[13] Pourafshary, P., Moradpour, N., 2019, Hybrid EOR methods utilizing low-salinity water, Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes - New Technologies, 8, 25. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88056
[14] Wu, S., Nikolov, A., Wasan, D., 2013, Cleansing dynamics of oily soil using nanofluids, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 396, 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2013.01.036
[15] Jafarbeigi, E., Sahraei, E., Maroufi, K‏., 2025, A novel functionalized nanoparticle for inhibiting asphaltene precipitation and deposition, Physics of Fluids, 37(1)‏, 017164. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0249699
[16] Jafarbeigi, E., Shahini-Nia, M., Mansouri, M., Kikhavani, T., Setareshenas, N., 2025, CuO/Al2O3/carbomer as a new hybrid agent for wettability alteration and oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 425, 127270‏. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.127270
[17] Gholinezhad, S., Kantzas, A., Bryant, S.L., 2022, Effect of surface func­tionalized silica nanoparticles on interfacial behavior: Wettability, interfacial tension and emulsification characteristics, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 349, 118220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2021.118220
[18] Razavifar, M., Khoshsima, A., Riazi, M., Sheng, J.J., Esmaeilnezhad, E., 2024, Recent developments, challenges, and prospects of carbon dots (CDs) for fluid flow investigation in porous media, Petroleum Research, 9(4), 553-564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptlrs.2024.04.004
[19] Sakthivel, S., Zhou, X., Giannelis, E.P., Kanj, M.Y., 2021, Carbon nanodots for enhanced oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs, Energy Reports, 7, 8943-8959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.194
[20] Aminian, A., ZareNezhad, B., 2019, Oil-detachment from the calcium carbonate surfaces via the actions of surfactant, nanoparticle and low salinity brine: an insight from molecular dynamic simulation, Chemical Engineering Science, 202, 373–82.    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2019.03.031
[21] Deng, X., Kamal, M.S., Patil, S., Hussain, S.M.S., Zhou, X., 2020, A review on wettability alteration in carbonate rocks: wettability modifiers, Energy Fuel, 34, 31–54. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c07387
[22] Moghadasi, R., Rostami, A., Hemmati-Sarapardeh, A., Motie, M., 2019, Application of Nanosilica for inhibition of fines migration during low salinity water injection: experimental study, mechanistic understanding, and model development, Fuel, 242, 846–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.01.053
[23] Mansouri, M., Ahmadi, Y., Sedghamiz, M.A., Vaferi, B.‏, 2024, Experimental investigation of the influence of ZnO–CuO nanocomposites on interfacial tension, contact angle, and oil recovery by spontaneous imbibition in carbonate rocks‏, Physics of Fluids, 36(10). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0231237
[24] Ahmadi, Y., Sadeghi, Z., Kikhavani, T., Alibak, A.H., Vaferi, B.‏, 2024, Synthesis and application of eucalyptus plant- and walnut shell- CuO/Fe3O4/Xanthan polymeric nanocomposites for enhanced oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs‏, Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 14, 3045–3054‏. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-024-01861-0
[25] Ali, J.A., Kolo, K., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Mohammadi, A.H., 2018, Recent advances in application of nanotechnology in chemical enhanced oil recovery: Effects of nanoparticles on wettability alteration, interfacial tension reduction, and flooding, Egyptian journal of petroleum, 27(4), 1371-1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2018.09.006
[26] Jafarbeigi, E., Ayatollahi, S., Ahmadi, Y., Mansouri, M., Dehghani, F.‏, 2023, Identification of novel applications of chemical compounds to change the wettability of reservoir rock: A critical review‏, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 371, 121059‏. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.121059
[27] Iravani, M., Simjoo, M., Molaei, A.H., ‏2025, Synergistic effect of polymer and graphene oxide nanocomposite in heterogeneous layered porous media: a pore-scale EOR Study‏, Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology 15(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-024-01910-8
[28] Jafarbeigi, E., Salimi, F., Kamari, E., Mansouri, M., ‏2022, Effects of modified graphene oxide (GO) nanofluid on wettability and IFT changes: Experimental study for EOR application, Petroleum Science, 19(4), 1779-1792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petsci.2021.12.022
[29] Salimi, F., Jafarbeigi, E., Karami, C., Khodapanah, E.‏, 2024, Synthesis of cost-effective Si-CQD for effective oil separation from core rock‏, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 394, 123722‏. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.123722
[30] Shadervan, A., Jafari, A., Teimouri, A., Gharibshahi, R., Dehaghani, A.H.S., 2024, Mechanistic understanding of asphaltene precipitation and oil recovery enhancement using SiO2 and CaCO3 nano-inhibitors, Scientific Reports, 14(1), 15249. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65995-1
[31] Gharibshahi, R., Mehrooz, N., Jafari, A., 2024, In-Situ Synthesis of Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Operations: Current Status and Future Prospects, Innovations in Enhanced and Improved Oil Recovery - New Advances, IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1003216
[32] Miranda, C.R., Lara, L.S.D., Tonetto, B.C., 2012, Stability and mobility of functionalized silica nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery applications, SPE international oilfield nanotechnology conference and exhibition, Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal, Paper Number: SPE-157033-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/157033-MS
[33] Esmaeilnezhad, E., Jin Choi, H., Schaffie, M., Gholizadeh, M., Ranjbar, M., 2018, Polymer coated magnetite-based magnetorheological fluid and its potential clean procedure applications to oil production, Journal of Cleaner Production, 171, 45–56 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.004
[34] Khajeh Kulaki, A., Hosseini-Nasab, S.M., Hormozi, F., 2024, Low-salinity water flooding by a novel hybrid of nano γ-Al2O3/SiO2 modified with a green surfactant for enhanced oil recovery, Scientific Report., 14(1), 14033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64171-9
[35] Ali, J.A, Kolo, K., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Stephen, K.D., 2019, Potential application of low-salinity polymeric-nanofluid in carbonate oil reservoirs: IFT reduction, wettability alteration, rheology and emulsification characteristics, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 284, 735-747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.04.053
[36] Habibi, S., Jafari, A., Fakhroueian, Z., 2020, Wettability alteration analysis of smart water/novel functionalized nanocomposites for enhanced oil recovery,Petroleum Science, 17, 1318-1328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-020-00436-y
[37] Habibi, S., Jafari, A., Fakhroueian, Z., 2020, Application of novel functionalized Al2O3/silica by organosiloxane and amine reagents for enhanced oil recovery, Applied Nanoscience, 10, 2085-2100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01337-7
[38] Liang, F., Wang, W., Zhu, S., Hu, Y., Zhao, Z., Tan, Y., Yu, G., Hou, J., Li, J., 2024, Nanofluids application in enhanced oil recovery process-opportunities and challenges, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 18(1), 106053.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2024.106053
[39] Omidi, A., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Moradi, S., Ali, J.A., Sajadi, S.M., Keshavarz, A., 2020, Smart-and nano-hybrid chemical EOR flooding using Fe3O4/eggshell nanocomposites, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 316, 113880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113880
[40] Kobayashi, M., Juillerat, F., Galletto, P., Bowen, P., Borkovec, M., 2005, Aggregation and charging of colloidal silica particles: effect of particle size, Langmuir, 21, 5761–5769. https://doi.org/10.1021/la046829z
[41] Ahmadi, M., Habibi, A., Pourafshry, P., Ayatollahi, S., 2011, Zeta Potential Investigation and Mathematical Modeling of Nanoparticles Deposited on the Rock Surface to Reduce Fine Migration, SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference.    https://doi.org/10.2118/142633-MS
[42] Lee, J., Hwang, K., Jang, S., Lee, B., Kim, J.H., Choi, S., Choi, C., 2008, Effective viscosities and thermal conductivities of aqueous nanofluids containing low volume concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticles,International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 51, 2651–2656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2007.10.026
[43] Jafarbeigi, E., Kamari, E., Salimi, F., Mohammadidoust, A.,  2020, Experimental study of the effects of a novel nanoparticle on enhanced oil recovery in carbonate porous media, Journal of Petroleum science and Engineering, 195, 107602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107602
[44] Wasan, DT., Nikolov, A.D., 2003, Spreading of nanofluids on solids, Nature, 423, 156-159. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01591
[45] Zargar, G., Arabpour, T., Khaksar-Manshad, A., Ali, J.A., Sajadi, S.M., Keshavarz, A., Mohammadi, A.H., 2020, Experimental investigation of the effect of green TiO2/Quartz nanocomposite on interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration, and oil recovery improvement, Fuel, 263, 116599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116599
[46] Khaksar-Manshad, A., Ali, J.A., Haghighi, O.M., Sajadi, S.M., Keshavarz, A., 2022, Oil recovery aspects of ZnO/SiO2 nano-clay in the carbonate reservoir, Fuel, 307, 121927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121927
[47] Zhang, P., Tweheyo, M.T., Austad, T., 2007, Wettability alteration and improved oil recovery by spontaneous imbibition of seawater into chalk: Impact of the potential determining ions Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42−, Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 301(1-3),199-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.12.058
[48] Keykhosravi, A., Bagheri Vanani, M., Aghayari, C., 2021, TiO2 nanoparticle-induced Xanthan Gum Polymer for EOR: Assessing the underlying mechanisms in oil-wet carbonates, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 204, 108756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108756
[49] Cheraghian, G., 2016, Effect of nano titanium dioxide on heavy oil recovery during polymer flooding, Petroleum Science and Technology, 34(7), 633-641. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1156125
[50] Garmroudi, A., Kheirollahi, M., Mousavi, S.A., Fattahi, M., Hamed Mahvelati, E., 2022, Effects of graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposite, graphene oxide nanosheets and Cedr extraction solution on IFT reduction and ultimate oil recovery from a carbonate rock, Petroleum, 8(4), 476-482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petlm.2020.10.002
[51] Li, Y., Zou, C., Kang, J., You, J., Liu, E., Wang, Y., Cao, Y., 2024, β-Cyclodextrin modified SiO2 nanofluid for enhanced oil recovery, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 688, 133655.    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.133655
[52] Kandiel, Y.E., Attia, G., Metwalli, F., Khalaf, R., Mahmoud, O., 2025, Innovative Role of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles and Surfactant in Optimizing Interfacial Tension for Enhanced Oil Recovery, Energies, 18(2), 249. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020249
Chemical Process Design
Volume 4, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 15-27

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics