Interfacial Rheological Investigation of Polymer Soluition-nanoparticles/Oil

Polymer solution flooding is one of the most efficient methods of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Polymer solution/oil interfaces have viscoelastic character, which plays a major role in the EOR performance. However, it should be borne in mind that the real-world condition in an oil reservoir (high salinity and high temperature) may strongly affect the fluid-fluid interfacial viscoelasticity, resulting in a decrease in EOR performance. Incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) (e.g., fumed nanosilica, and graphene) is a promising method to improve interfacial viscoelasticity of a polymer solution/oil (NPs can be localized at solution/oil interface, and they act as a surfactant). In all the past work, the combined effect of oil reservoir condition and existence of the nanoparticles as a surfactant at the molecular structure of the fluid-fluid interface has been neglected. Hence, investigation of the effect of the reservoir condition in the presence of nanoparticles on the interfacial viscoelasticity of polymer solution/oil will be reported for the first time in this work. The results of this work will help the oil industry in Canada to improve the EOR performance by polymer flooding in a real work situation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Uttandaraman Sundararaj

Student:

Partner:

Stanford University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Calgary

Program: