Research Projects

Polymer–assisted enhanced oil recovery is one of the fascinating approaches for increasing crude oil production from depleted reservoirs. Nanoparticles-assisted polymer flooding has added advantages. Nanoparticles have the distinguishing feature of reducing interfacial tension and wettability alteration. Another method for improved oil recovery is Carbonated Water Injection. In this method, water containing CO2 is injected into the reservoir to decrease the mobility of CO2 and water. This method sums the advantages of water and CO2 flooding techniques, including the potential reduction of environmental CO2. In this study, this novel hybrid method will be studied to assess its applicability in oil recovery. Firstly, Carbonated water slugs will be prepared with synthesized high molecular weight polymer and nanoparticles mixed in varying concentrations. Secondly, the rheological and interfacial behavior of these slugs will be studied using a high-pressure, high-temperature rheometer and a goniometer. Thirdly the contact angle of these slugs will be studied with respect to various Mineral Cores at elevated pressure and temperature conditions. After these studies, the most optimum slug design will be used in Core Flooding Apparatus to study its effect on oil recovery in the last stage.