Stabilization of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Foam and Crude Oils Emulsion with Silica Nanoparticles
Abstract
Foam flooding is an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method that is commonly used in the management and development of petroleum reservoirs to improve the mobility and recovery of crude oils from geological strata. Although foam stability is complex due to the reservoirs' conditions, it is critical to ensure an efficient EOR process. Surfactant based nanofluids with applications to EOR are been developed and optimized. Understanding of the effects of nanoparticles and surfactant dispersions on foam stability in crude oil systems is challenging as it requires the exploration of the relationship and effect of the influence of the physical and chemical qualities of the reservoir itself on crude oil and foaming. In this study, the foamability and foam stability of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) based silica nanofluids in the presence and absence of crude oils that had been exposed to two types of limestone were assessed. We examined the relationship among the various materials adsorbed at the interface and the foam properties of the SiO2 /SDS dispersions in varying concentrations in the presence and absence of light (West Texas Intermediate) and heavy (Lloydminster) crude oils, with both crude oils having been exposed to two types of limestone over a period of time. The foamability and foam stability of the studied foam systems were described by their zeta potential, interfacial tension, and foam height over time. The hydrodynamic diameter value of SiO2 nanoparticles in the systems tested was achieved through dynamic light scattering measurements. The results of this study indicated that the development of nanoparticles-based foams for chemical EOR applications can be optimized for a wide range of crude oils exposed to different geological physical and chemical components. By evaluating the foam properties in the case of the aqueous surfactants solution, a stabilization mechanism of aqueous foam for nanoparticle/surfactant dispersion in the presence of crude oil and limestone formations was proposed.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.H31J2034D
- Keywords:
-
- 1829 Groundwater hydrology;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1831 Groundwater quality;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1832 Groundwater transport;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1847 Modeling;
- HYDROLOGY