Effect of Silicon Oxide Nanoparticles and Brine Salinity on Fines Migration in an Unconsolidated Formation
Authors: Igbinere SA, Onaiwu DO
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
Migrating fines are usually the source of near wellbore formation, flow paths and far away into the reservoir damage, which are due to collection of these clayey fines in pore throats of the different flow paths existing inside the hydrocarbon bearing formation. Protection of these regions from damage encourages high recovery. Hydrophobic silicon oxide nanoparticles (NPs) as well as a sharp change in the brine salinity of the unconsolidated environment was applied to a simulated unconsolidated formation. The results obtained showed that at high concentration of hydrophobic silicon oxide nanoparticles and high salinity brine (30g/L), fines creation and migration was drastically reduced but at low concentration of hydrophobic silicon oxide nanoparticles and low salinity brine (0.5g/L) more fines were created and mobilized. The presence of hydrophobic silicon oxide nanoparticles in high salinity condition in unconsolidated formation is effective in controlling the amount of clay fines created and migrated in unconsolidated formations.
Affiliations: Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Nanoparticles, Salinity, Fines, Hydrophobic, Silicon Oxide
Published date: 2018/12/30
