The KFU scientists’ method will facilitate the extraction of heavy oil using sodium nanoparticles

The scientific group of the Research Laboratory of Methods for Enhanced Oil Recovery of the World Level Scientific Center (NCMU) carried out a study on the influence of metallic sodium nanoparticles on the production of heavy oil “Rational development of liquid hydrocarbon of the planet.” Reserves” of the Kazan Federal University (KFU), the university’s press service reported on November 7.

The new research will expand the number of methods to increase the efficiency of oil recovery from heavy oil reservoirs, which are increasingly in demand amid growing global energy demand and the depletion of traditional light oil reserves.

A recently used technological innovation has been the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for these purposes, including organodispersions of metallic sodium nanoparticles. This material is used to increase oil recovery from dense, low-permeability formations.

Lead researcher of the Research Laboratory of Improved Oil Recovery Methods, Alexey Vakhin, spoke about the effect of metal sodium additives on oil recovery:

“Sodium metal is a very reactive material that reacts easily with various chemicals and, when it reacts with water, forms alkali and hydrogen gas. The first component, alkali, has long been used in oil production, for example in alkali flooding. Hydrogen gas, in turn, is very soluble in crude oil, which increases its mobility. Under certain conditions, metallic sodium promotes the hydrogenation of unsaturated components, in addition, when metallic sodium comes into contact with water, a large amount of heat is released, which together has a positive effect on the flow rate of the well.”.

Scientists of the National Center for Medical Sciences “Rational development of the planet’s liquid hydrocarbon reserves” received a patent for a fairly simple method of producing nanoparticles of metallic sodium – an affordable but chemically very active material. It is easy to inject into an oil-saturated formation and with its help activate processes that increase the flow rate of the well.

Sofya Trubitsina, an engineer at the In Situ Combustion Research Laboratory, spoke about the effect of nanoparticles on heavy oil:

“Nanotechnologies, which today cover many areas of industry and various spheres of human activity, have not overlooked the oil industry. It is known that, moving into the nanoregion, where the particle size reaches 1 to 100 nm, the ratio of surface atoms relative to volumetric atoms increases considerably, and most processes in colloidal systems, including oil, occur at the phase interface. , so the increase in surface area leads to the intensification of these processes. Consequently, nanoparticles are more reactive than their larger counterparts. Furthermore, due to their small size, nanoparticles can easily spread in porous media without reducing permeability.”.

The problem in this case is the high cost of producing nanoparticles. Therefore, the NCMU scientists’ research also aimed to find solutions to reduce the cost and increase the availability of nanoparticles for industrial oil production.

The scientists presented details of the study of the effect of injecting such nanoparticles into an oil field in the article “The effect of metallic sodium nanoparticles on the efficiency of aquathermolysis of heavy oil”, published in the journal Catalysts.

When sodium nanoparticles are added during steam heat treatment, active hydrogen is formed in the oil volume. In addition, nanodispersion of metallic sodium leads to an increase in the proportion of low molecular weight hydrocarbons in the saturated and aromatic fractions of heavy oil and to the binding of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide in it.

As a result of the upgrading of oil through the aquathermolysis process with the presence of metallic sodium nanoparticles, the viscosity of the oil decreases, making it easier to extract.

“The first results of the study showed comparable efficacy to the use of sodium organosuspensions with oil-soluble catalyst precursors, our previous development. At the same time, the economic component of obtaining a sodium suspension is much lower.””Firdavs Aliyev, senior researcher at the In Situ Combustion Research Laboratory, added to the story.

The results of the work of Kazan scientists will be tested at PJSC Tatneft. After soon receiving a pilot batch of the new reagent, it will be field tested in a high-viscosity oil field.

Source: Rossa Primavera