Study of Adsorption and Transport Behavior of Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) Nanofluids In Difference Porous Media

• Main Author: Matraji, Herman Hari
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2013
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/13888/1/final%20draft%20report_Herman%2013081.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/13888/

In order to extract more residual oil in place, understanding the adsorption and transportation of nanoparticles in porous media is critical. Even though there are a lot of studies on nanoparticles application in oil and gas industry but until today, the transport of nanoparticles in porous media for oil recovery has been little investigated. No specific research to investigate the adsorption and transport behavior of iron oxide nanofluids using different porous media. Coreflooding tests are performed to study iron oxide nanofluids particle adsorption onto three different porous media medium - Berea sandstone, glass bead and river sand. By measuring the particle concentration in the effluent by using UV/Vis spectrophotometer, iron oxide nanofluids transport in different core samples was investigated. Particle plugging and changes of core’s permeability was observed during the tests by measured pressure drop across the porous medium. The relative concentration of iron oxide for sandstone, glass bead, and river sand were estimated as 30%, 48% and 35% respectively. It was found that sandstone has the lowest permeability compare to other which could lead to higher interactions between moving particles and pore surfaces that promote pore – throat processes e.g. plugging. Iron oxide show the lowest adsorption (0.03 wt %) and transport behavior in the sandstone compare to river sand and glass bead. The pressure drop was observed increase continuously during the coreflood test due to the porous medium permeability change, which means the particle plugging occurred in the porous medium.