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PETROMAKS2-Stort program petroleum

Particle stabilized emulsions for EOR

Alternative title: Partikkelstabiliserte emulsjoner for økt oljeutvinning

Awarded: NOK 2.5 mill.

The main scientific task of the project is to investigate EOR using emulsions stabilized by micro- or nano- particles (so-called Pickering emulsions or nanofluids). The project is connected to laboratory model EOR experiments combined with modelling. Among the stabiliz ing particles to be studied, special attention will be given to mineral clay nano-/micro-particles, due to their natural occurrence in many real oil reservoir situations, as well as due to their low cost compred to other particles. In addition smaller (down to 10 nm) hydrophilic silica nano-particles with surface properties similar to clays will be used. National (NTNU-IFE) and international collaboration, in particular with Brazil (PUC-Rio de Janeiro and UFPE-Recife), and also with USA and France are at the core of the project. Student training at Master and PhD level is integrated in the project, and students from NTNU will work at IFE and in Brazil and also to lesser extent in USA or France, and students from Brazil will work at NTNU for several periods. The project is multidisciplinary as it includes the Departments of Physics and of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics at NTNU, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PUC-Rio, as well as Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the other participating institutions. The participating group at Department of Mechanical Engineering at PUC-Rio regularly has research projects with industry such as Petrobras and Statoil-Brasil, and the current project will benefit from that. The leading group a t the NTNU Department of Physics brings a unique and extensive Brazilian research network into this ISP. This network has been build during a decade of active collaborations, and one very important objective in this context is to use this network for recr uitment of Brazilian young researchers to work on EOR and petroleum research.

The main scientific task of the project is to investigate EOR using emulsions stabilized by micro- or nano- particles (so-called Pickering emulsions). The project is connected to laboratory model EOR experiments combined with modelling. Among the stabiliz ing particles to be studied, special attention will be given to mineral clay nano-/micro-particles, due to their natural occurrence in many real oil reservoir situations, as well as due to their low cost compred to other particles. In addition smaller (< 10 nm) hydrophilic silica nano-particles with surface properties similar to clays will be used. National (NTNU-IFE) and international collaboration, in particular with Brazil (PUC-Rio de Janeiro), and also with USA and France are at the core of the proj ect. Student training at Master and PhD level is integrated in the project, and students from NTNU will work at IFE and in Brazil and also to lesser extent in USA, and students from Brazil will work at NTNU for several periods. The project is multidisci plinary as it includes the Departments of Physics and of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics at NTNU, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PUC-Rio, as well as Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the other participat ing institutions. The participating group at Department of Mechanical Engineering at PUC-Rio regularly has research projects with industry such as Petrobras and Statoil-Brasil, and the current project will benefit from that. The leading group at the NTNU Department of Physics brings a unique and extensive Brazilian research network into this ISP. This network has been build during a decade of active collaborations, and one very important objective in this context is to use this network for recruitment of Brazilian young researchers to work on EOR and petroleum research.

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Funding scheme:

PETROMAKS2-Stort program petroleum