Insights into Nanoscale Wettability Effects of Low Salinity and Nanofluid Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques (original) (raw)
In this study, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques—namely low salinity and nanofluid EOR—are probed at the nanometer-scale using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Mica substrates were used as model clay-rich rocks while AFM tips were coated to present alkyl (-CH3), aromatic (-C6H5) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups, to simulate oil media. We prepared brine formulations to test brine dilution and cation bridging effects while selected concentrations (0 to 1 wt%) of hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in 1 wt% NaCl were used as nanofluids. Samples were immersed in fluid cells and chemical force mapping was used to measure the adhesion force between polar/non-polar moieties to substrates. Adhesion work was evaluated based on force-displacement curves and compared with theories. Results from AFM studies indicate that low salinity waters and nanoparticle dispersions promote nanoscale wettability alteration by significantly reducing three-phase adhesion force and the r...
Sign up for access to the world's latest research.
checkGet notified about relevant papers
checkSave papers to use in your research
checkJoin the discussion with peers
checkTrack your impact
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.