Regresar

Nanoparticles selection for heavy oil recovery, study case on the Ecuador east

Abstract:

Nanoparticles application for heavy oil recovery has shown positive results in laboratory experiments simulating enhancing oil recovery. This work consists in a comparative analysis of the nanoparticles to determinate that has better applicability for viscosity reduction and increase of oil recovery on the Ecuador east basin. The majority studies are based on the use of the nanoparticles such as: aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, nickel oxide, among others that at certain concentrations were mixed with formation water or brine to obtain a respective nanofluid to be injected into samples of wet cores with heavy oil obtained from a reservoir. The analysis result indicates that aluminum oxide reduces the oil viscosity in a more effective way in addition of obtaining the best recovery percentage in comparison with the other nanofluids, considering that also helps to increase API grades turning them in a lighter hydrocarbon for its refining process.