Qin, T, Goual, L, Piri, M et al. (2 more authors) (2020) Pore-scale dynamics of nanofluid-enhanced NAPL displacement in carbonate rock. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 230. 103598. ISSN 0169-7722
Abstract
This study presents a pore-scale investigation of two-phase flow dynamics during nanofluid flooding in subsurface formations containing non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) such as crude oils. The goal was to gain fundamental understanding of the dominant displacement mechanisms of NAPL at different stages of nanofluid injection in a carbonate rock using x-ray microtomography integrated with a miniature core-flooding system. The nanofluid consisted of surfactant-based microemulsions with in-situ synthesized silica nanoparticles. After establishing its initial wettability state, the carbonate core sample was subjected to various pore volumes (PV) of nanofluid flooding (from 0.5 to 10) to examine the impact on NAPL flow dynamics. We found that most NAPL mobilization occurred within the first PV of injection, removing nearly 50% of NAPL from the rock. The nanofluid invaded into larger pores first due to a sharp decrease in NAPL/brine interfacial tension (from 14 to 0.5 mN/m) and contact angle (from 140 to 88°). With higher amount of nanofluid delivered into the pores through advection, over 90% of NAPL droplets were emulsified and their size decreased from 9 to 3 μm. Subsequent nanofluid injection could further remove NAPL from the smaller pores by altering the thickness of NAPL layers adsorbed on the rock. This dynamic solubilization process reached equilibrium after 5 PV of injection, leading to a reduced layer thickness (from 12 to 0.2 μm), a narrower in-situ contact angle distribution around 81°, and an additional 16% of NAPL removal.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in the Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Pore-scale dynamics; Microemulsion; Crude oil; Nanoparticle; Enhanced oil recovery; Aquifer remediation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jan 2020 14:56 |
Last Modified: | 24 Jun 2021 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2019.103598 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:155922 |
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