Nanotechnology boosts oil recovery chances

A new method utilising nanoparticle-containing solutions that allow for the enhanced recovery of oil at low cost has been discovered by scientists at the University of Houston. 

Enhanced oil recovery is a process used to retrieve gas and oil after taking advantage of either natural pressure or the use of pressurised gas and water. A chemical mixture is pumped underground which allows 15-20% of remaining hydrocarbons to be recovered. Due to the large amounts of chemicals used, concerns have been raised around pollution of underground water resources

The researchers have discovered a graphene-based solution that could be used instead. It is comprised of Janus amphiphilic nanosheets — molecules with at least two physical properties, allowing for multiple reactions on one particle. It is known as a nanofluid as it is a nanoparticle-containing solution.

Zhifeng Ren, lead author from the University of Houston, said the low concentration and high efficiency in boosting enhanced oil recovery make the nanofluid both environmentally friendly and less expensive that current options. At a concentration of 0.01 percent the nanofluid recovered 15.2 percent of available more, more than three times that of other nanofluids.

In the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors said: "Our results provide a novel nanofluid flooding method for tertiary oil recovery that is comparable to the sophisticated chemical methods. We anticipate that this work will bring simple nanofluid flooding at low concentration to the stage of oilfield practice, which could result in oil being recovered in a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner."

In addition to Ren and scientists based in Houston, the study also included scientists from the Southwest Petroleum University in Chengdu, China.

The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.