Evaluation of Wettability Alteration Mechanisms by Nanofluids

Nanotechnology has a growing interest to develop products of many industries like mechanical, electrical, material, medical, textile, and oil industries. In the oil industry, nanotechnology is used in upstream and downstream facilities. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is one of its division that uses new technology specially nanofluids to increase oil recovery efficiency. In this study, we focus on wettability alteration by nanofluids and the mechanisms that control it. Firstly we consider the nanofluids preparation methods, and then we discuss the functionality of conventional nanoparticles for change of wettability, and finally show the main mechanisms of wettability alteration in different flooding conditions. The results showed the type of nanoparticles, matrix mineralogy, temperature, ionic concentrationof the solution, salinity are factors that affect the wettability alteration.

Keywords:

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) , nanofluids , wettability alteration Mechanisms.