Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis (Dec 2022)
Interfacial tension of brine-oil interface using Fe2O3, ZnO, and SiO2 nanoparticles endorsed by electromagnetic waves
Abstract
The interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with crude oil in a porous media activated by electromagnetic (EM) waves is projected to be a crucial approach to reduce interfacial tension (IFT) for the achievement of oil productivity. Various NPs were reported to have been used in the oil reservoirs and found to reduce IFT between fluids and crude oil. However, the NPs undergo a persistent problem of perpetual detachment at the fluids/oil interface caused by the high temperature of the reservoir which renders the NPs inactive. Hence, NPs need to be activated to increase their task accomplishment for higher IFT reduction. The present study investigates the effect of EM waves on activating NPs of Fe2O3, ZnO, and SiO2 upon IFT reduction using brine as the base fluids. The results have shown a reasonable reduction for the IFT when NPs were used. But the additional reduction was observed upon introducing the energy to the NPs via EM waves. The significant change was ascribed to the good electrical conductivity of the NPs that encourages the ions to polarize and rapidly absorb the energy propagated from EM waves. Consequently, the IFT (mN/m) was reduced from 12.50 to 4.45, 12.50 to 1.16, and 12.50 to 3.38 for ZnO, Fe2O3, and SiO2 NPs respectively. The present study is significant in proving a vital insight into the impact of EM waves for supporting NPs to reduce the effect of attractive forces between oil and fluids for the achievement of oil mobility.
