Use of nanofluids based on carbon nanoparticles to displace oil from the porous medium mode

Abstract

Understanding the interaction mechanisms between graphene nanoparticles (GNs) and oil molecules is crucial for successful oil recovery. Numerous studies have shown that nanofluids, and in particular nanofluids (NF) from the graphene family (GNF), are suitable candidates for enhanced oil recovery in various reservoirs. Increased oil recovery from nanofluid injection is attributed to changes in wettability, decreases in interfacial tension and changes in viscosity. Therefore, knowing the mechanisms that influence the viscosity of the GNF is an urgent task of modern science, both fundamental and applied. A comprehensive study of the molecular interaction between graphene nanoparticles and hydrocarbon oil molecules was carried out in order to understand the mechanisms that affect the viscosity of nanofluids. The paper presents the results of a study of the rheological properties of oil with different content of graphene nanoparticles in it. At low concentrations of graphene nanoparticles, a 10%-17% decrease in the dynamic viscosity of the base fluid was observed. It is also shown that the relative viscosity is affected not only by the concentration, but also by the temperature. Thus, for the mass fraction of graphene nanoparticles wt = 0.5 × 10-3% and temperature T = 50 °C, a maximum viscosity reduction of 17% is observed. By increasing the concentration of graphene nanoparticles from wt = 5 × 10-3% and more, the oil shows the rheological properties of nanofluid. Based on the data obtained by computer simulation and direct observation of self-assembly of graphene nanoparticles and hydrocarbon molecules of oil, a mechanism has been proposed to explain the reason for the decrease of viscosity of nanofluid at low concentrations of nanoparticles. It was also shown that this nanofluid behavior is mainly possible for hydrocarbon liquids as base fluid and planar graphene nanoparticles.