Investigation and Characterization of a Robust Nanocomposite Preformed Particle Gel for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

A robust starch-grafted nanocomposite preformed particle gel (SN-PPG) with superior viscoelasticity and thermal stability is developed to improve the oil recovery. The effects of a cross-linker, an initiator, starch, sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT), and additives thereof were systematically studied. Through introducing starch and Na-MMT, the storage modulus of the swollen gel was ameliorated from 570 to 1420 Pa. At 80 °C, the SN-PPG exhibited thermal stability after aging for 90 days; meanwhile, it showed an inflection temperature of 187.3 °C in the differential scanning calorimetry measurements, which indicated excellent thermostability. Moreover, the SN-PPG displayed a reinforced pH and salinity tolerance compared with the conventional PPG. In core-flooding tests, the SN-PPG successfully blocked the fracture aperture and improved the oil recovery by 29.86-38.59%. Furthermore, the characterizations involving Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the decoration mechanism of starch grafting and Na-MMT nanocompositing. The results showed that the robust SN-PPG could be a candidate for remedying the conformance problem and improving the oil recovery for high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Additives; Differential scanning calorimetry; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Grafting (chemical); Nanocomposites; Oil well flooding; Scanning electron microscopy; Starch; Thermodynamic stability, Core flooding test; Enhanced oil recovery; Fracture apertures; High-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs; Inflection temperature; Oil recoveries; Salinity tolerance; Sodium montmorillonite, Thermal oil recovery

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0887-0624; 1520-5029

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2019

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