Determination of Optimum Frequency for Electromagnetic-Assisted Nanofluid Core Flooding

Abstract

The coupling of electromagnetic (EM) wave to nanoflooding experiments, termed EM-assisted nanoflooding has gained enormous attention in recent years. This brings about the consideration of transmitter efficiency and the propagation pattern of the ensuing EM wave, both of which depend on reservoir electromagnetic properties. However, this has not been considered in previous works, despite its potential to improve the efficiency of the process through energy maximization. Hence, this study considers the effects of reservoir EM properties on the operation of a transmitter. The EM properties of saturated reservoir rock samples were measured. Afterward, a half-wave dipole antenna was modeled in a cylindrical reservoir based on the measured EM properties. The EM propagation pattern of the antenna was simulated in a frequency range of 100 MHz—2.0 GHz using the finite element method. The antenna was found to display dual resonance (at 800 MHz and 1.3 GHz) for sandstone saturated with oil, brine and nanofluid. Application of the EM wave at resonance frequency can help increase the efficiency of EM-assisted nanoflooding.