Interfacial Tension Dependence on Nanoparticle Surface Modification for Stabilization of CO₂ Foam in EOR: An Overview

Abstract:

Foam Flooding have been suggested to replace gas injection in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method since it will improve the volumetric sweep efficiency due to its low mobility. This paper aims to review on the relationship of Interfacial Tension (IFT) of the CO₂ foams and nanoparticle surface modification. Generally, in foam flooding technique, surfactant is used to stabilize the CO₂ foams. However, the concern about the stability of the surfactant-stabilized CO₂ foam has been rising due to high surfactant adsorption on the rock surface and they also tend to degrade at high temperature. Hence, nanoparticle has been introduced to generate more stable CO₂ foam by adsorption of nanoparticles at the fluid-fluid interface. Based on the review, the stability of CO₂ foam generated by nanoparticles is due to the strong adhesion energy at the fluid-fluid interface where the interfacial tension between aqueous phase and CO₂ gas phase inside the foam is one of the key parameter. It also has been identified that the main factors that influenced the interfacial tension at the fluid-fluid interface are the nanoparticles concentration and the degree of hydrophilicity of nanoparticles. The correct amount of nanosolid particles present at the fluid-fluid interface and the optimum degree of hydrophilicity with favorable contact angles less than 90 degree will increase the interfacial tension that lead to increase in adhesion energy and high stability foam can be generated.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1113)
• Pages: 637-642
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1113.637
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: T.A.T. Mohd, Azwan Harun, Nurul Aimi Ghazali, N. Alias, Effah Yahya
• Keywords: EOR, Foam Flooding, Foam Stability, Interfacial Tension, Nanosilica

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