Nanoparticles: An Emerging Technology for Oil Production and Processing Applications

This book assesses the current development and potential applications of nanoparticle technology in oil industry and explores new research directions in this frontier field. It outlines the theory and practical challenges of the nanoparticle colloidal behavior in oil matrixes and aqueous solutions, the interactions between rock and nanofluid, nanoparticles and asphaltenes, and the surface phenomena relevant to the application of this technology. The book also describes the transport behavior of nanoparticles in oil/sand media for in-situ upgrading and recovery of heavy oil. Currently, the main objectives of applying nanoscale materials in oil industry are the remediation of formation damage, the improvement of energy efficiency, the abatement of environmental footprints and the increment of recovery factors of oil reservoirs, to name a few. The book consists of 15 chapters with contributions by leading experts in the topics of fabrication methods, opportunities and challenges in t he oil & gas industry, modeling and application of nanofluids in the field and environmental applications of nanoparticles. The growing demand for oil has led to the need to exploit unconventional oil resources, such as heavy and extra-heavy crude oil. However, in the current context, upgrading and recovery of heavy oil are highly energy and water intensive, which consequently results in environmental impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new ideas and alternatives in the field of in-situ and ex-situ upgrading and recovery to improve current technologies and make them both environmentally sound and cost-effective. Research conducted by the authors and numerous other researchers has shown that nanoparticle technology could be successfully employed for enhancing the upgrading and recovery of heavy oil with cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches. Examples on the applications of nanoparticles in heavy oil include the adsorption, oxidation, and gasification/ cracking of asphaltenes, a problematic constituent present in heavy oils; in-situ upgrading of the Athabasca bitumen by multi-metallic in-situ prepared nanocatalysts; the inhibition of precipitation and deposition of asphaltnes; and the enhanced perdurability against asphaltene damage in oil sands porous media by injection of nanofluids; sequestration of oil from spilled by nanoparticles, cleaning up oil sand process affected water by integrating nanoparticle with conventional treatment processes, etc.

Inhaltsverzeichnis:

Chapter 1. Nanoparticle Preparation, Stabilization and Control over Particle Size.- Chapter 2. Nanoparticles as Potential Agents for Enhanced Oil Recovery.- Chapter 3. Nanoparticles as Adsorbents for Asphaltenes.- Chapter 4. Nanoparticles as catalyst for asphaltenes and waste heavy hydrocarbons upgrading.- Chapter 5. Effect of Pressure on Thermo- and Thermocatalytic Oxidation of Asphaltenes.- Chapter 6. Nanoparticles for Heavy Oil Upgrading.- Chapter 7. Nanotechnology Applications for Viscosity Reduction of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Oils: A Review.- Chapter 8. Using Nanoparticles as Gas Foam Stabilizing Agents for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications .- Chapter 9. Influence of Surfactant Adsorption on Surface-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles For Gas Foam Stability.- Chapter 10. Nanoparticles for Drilling, Cementing, Hydraulic Fracturing and well stimulation Fluids .- Chapter 11. Double Purpose Drilling Fluid Based on Nanotechnology: Drilling-Induced Formation Damage Reduction and Imp rovement in Mud Filtrate Quality .- Chapter 12. Evaluation from Laboratory to Field Trial of Nanofluids for CaCO3 Scales Inhibition in Oil Wells.- Chapter 13. Removal of Uranium-238 from Flowback Water of Hydraulic Fracturing Processes in Unconventional Reservoirs using Phosphorus- and Nitrogen-Functionalized Activated Carbons.- Chapter 14. Nanopaticles for cleaning up Oil Sand Process-affected Water.- Chapter 15. Challenges and Uncertainties of Using Nanoparticles in Oil and Gas Applications.