Journal
FUEL
Volume 319, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123667
Keywords
Pickering nanoemulsions; Enhanced oil recovery (EOR); Oilfield applications; Nanoparticles; Surfactants; Polymers
Categories
Funding
- Deanship of Research Oversight and Coordination (DROC) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Min-erals (KFUPM) [DF191023]
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This article reviews the formulations and applications of Pickering nanoemulsions for enhancing crude oil recovery, with a focus on the recovery mechanisms. The study found that the careful selection and engineering of nanoparticles to stabilize Pickering nanoemulsions is a critical factor. However, the relationship between the characteristics of Pickering nanoemulsions and their effectiveness in increasing recovery rates is complex and not fully understood.
The key mechanisms in enhancing crude oil recovery include the reduction of interfacial tension (IFT) between the trapped crude oil and the injected flooding solution, the wettability alteration of the reservoir rocks, in-situ emulsification, pore plugging, mobility control, disjoining and capillary pressures, miscibility improvement, etc. Recently, Pickering nanoemulsions have emerged as attractive flooding fluids that can positively alter all the above mechanisms and, thus, provide an improved oil recovery relative to other tertiary methods. The nano particles (NPs) used to stabilize Pickering nanoemulsions must be carefully selected and engineered in order to impart the desired characteristics (e.g., stability, emulsion type, droplet size, zeta potential, etc.). Yet, the relationship between the efficacy of Pickering nanoemulsions in enhancing oil recovery and their characteristics is very complex and not fully understood. Additionally, the oil recovery enhancement mechanisms are quite complex and governed by several interrelated factors. Therefore, this article provides a state-of-the-art review of the formulations and applications of Pickering nanoemulsions for enhancing the recovery of crude oil, with a focus on the recovery mechanisms. Relevant recent studies on the topic have been analyzed and assessed in order to provide insights into the achieved progress and to highlight the remaining obstacles and challenges. Future research work to address the key obstacles and challenges has been proposed.
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