The impact of viscoelastic nanofluids on the oil droplet remobilization in porous media: An experimental approach

Abstract

Abstract Polymer nanohybrids have displayed great potential in remobilizing oil droplets through porous media. This research aims at providing some insights into how the hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer and Al2O3 nanoparticles’ (NPs) hybrid can push crude oil toward the producers. An understanding of what the hybrid viscosity is when flowing through porous rocks was acquired by the rheological tests. Using the Du Noüy ring method, the interfacial tension (IFT) between the polymer nanohybrid and crude oil was studied. Contact angle experiments were employed to assess the ability of hybrid in reversing surface wettability. The results show that the hybrid can yield a 12% higher shear viscosity than the HPAM solution and the viscosity improvement dramatically depends on NPs’ concentration and temperature. With more than a 23% drop in the contact angle value, the results of contact angle experiments reveal the capability of the Al2O3 NPs in altering surface wettability. The measured IFT between hybrid and crude oil at different temperatures demonstrates that the adsorption of NPs on the oil–aqueous phase interface can significantly improve the capillary number. This article not only presents the underlying mechanisms of oil recovery during hybrid flooding but also provides a new reference for formulating a novel hybrid agent.