Interaction of low salinity surfactant nanofluids with carbonate surfaces and molecular level dynamics at fluid-fluid interface at ScCO2 loading

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Volume

586

First Page

315

Last Page

325

PubMed ID

33148450

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Engineering

RAS ID

39564

Comments

Jha, N. K., Ivanova, A., Lebedev, M., Barifcani, A., Cheremisin, A., Iglauer, S., ... Sarmadivaleh, M. (2021). Interaction of low salinity surfactant nanofluids with carbonate surfaces and molecular level dynamics at fluid-fluid interface at ScCO2 loading. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 586, 315-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.10.095

Abstract

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Hypothesis: The advanced low salinity aqueous formulations are yet to be validated as an injection fluid for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from the carbonate reservoirs and CO2 geosequestration. Interaction of various ionic species present in the novel low salinity surfactant nanofluids with scCO2/CO2 saturated aqueous phase interface and at the interface of CO2 saturated aqueous phase/mixed wet (with CO2 and Decane) limestone surface at the conditions of low salinity at reservoir conditions are to yet to be understood. Experiments: This study, carried out for the first time in low salinity at scCO2 loading conditions at 20 MPa pressure and 343 K temperature, comprises of wettability study of the limestone surface by aqueous phase contact angle measurements using ZrO2 nanoparticles (in the concentration range of 100–2000 mg/L) and 0.82 mM Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. Molecular dynamics simulations results were used to understand the underlying mechanism of wettability alteration and interfacial tension (IFT) change. Findings: This study reveals that a low dosage (100 mg/L) of ZrO2 nanoparticles forming ZrO2-CTAB nano-complexes helps in wettability alteration of the rock surface to more water-wetting state; certain ionic species augment this effect when used in appropriate concentration. Also, these nano-complexes helps in scCO2/CO2 saturated aqueous phase IFT reduction. This study can be used to design advanced low salinity injection fluids for water alternating gas injection for EOR and CO2 geosequestration projects.

DOI

10.1016/j.jcis.2020.10.095

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