Investigation of Oil and Water Surface Interactions in Nanoparticles Present in Crude Oil

Abstract

Understanding how oil and water interact at the surface level is essential for enhancing crude oil recovery, particularly in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques. This study explores the effects of three types of nanoparticles, aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silica-coated iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 ) on key interfacial properties such as wettability and interfacial tension. Using a sand pack displacement setup under controlled flow conditions, nanofluids were prepared at concentrations ranging from 0.1 wt% to 0.5 wt% and evaluated for their dynamic viscosity and permeability characteristics. Results showed that ZnO reached the highest viscosity at 1.694 cP (0.5 wt%), while Fe 3 O 4 @SiO₂ recorded the lowest at 0.995 cP (0.1 wt%). Interestingly, permeability increased with viscosity, contrary to conventional expectations, with ZnO achieving a peak of 90 mD. Oil recovery also improved with higher nanoparticle concentrations. Al₂O₃ delivered the best performance at 0.5 wt%, recovering 27 mL of oil, followed by ZnO (24 mL) and Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 (15 mL). These findings underscore the importance of selecting the right nanoparticle type and concentration to improve EOR performance, with Al 2 O 3 showing the most promise for enhancing both permeability and displacement efficiency.

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