Chemical enhanced oil recovery using carbonized ZIF-67 MOFs and sulfonated copolymers at high reservoir temperatures


Khoramian R. Nurmyrza M. Lee W.
1 November 2024Elsevier B.V.

Chemical Engineering Journal
2024#499

Traditional nanoparticle and polymer-based enhanced oil recovery methods face challenges such as nanoparticle agglomeration and polymer adsorption, particularly at elevated reservoir temperatures. This study introduces hybrid polymeric nanofluids, combining carbonized Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) with sulfonated copolymers to address these issues. Viscosity tests were conducted at 25 °C, 50 °C, 75 °C, and 90 °C, revealing a 39.67 % increase in viscosity at 90 °C, attributed to electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions. For subsequent analyses—stability, adsorption, and core flooding—75 °C was selected as the representative high reservoir temperature. Stability assessments, confirmed via UV–Vis spectroscopy, demonstrated nanofluid durability over at least seven days. Carbonized ZIF-67 reduced polymer adsorption on rock surfaces, enhancing oil recovery and reducing environmental impact. Dynamic core flooding experiments showed a 45.8 % improvement in oil recovery by the hybrid nanofluid on carbonate rock samples. The hybrid nanofluid increased RF and RRF, improving the mobility ratio and redirecting flow to lower-permeability zones, reducing unswept oil and enhancing macroscopic sweep efficiency. Winsor Type III emulsification during the post-flooding phase of polymer-nanoparticle injection significantly improved trapped oil mobilization. Reduced contact angles from 170° to 100° altered the wettability, enhancing oil recovery. Carbonized ZIF-67 nanoparticles increased viscous forces, reduced capillary forces, and minimized polymer adsorption. The polymeric nanofluid achieved a capillary number of 1.0 × 10−3, two orders higher than that of polymer alone, resulting in superior performance. Injectivity optimization showed shear rates of 15.9 s−1 in 1700 mD cores and 79.8 s−1 in 80 mD cores, causing pressure drops of 15 psi and 1200 psi, respectively. This highlights injectivity challenges in 80 mD cores, while cores ≥ 290 mD are ideal for our polymer-nanoparticle hybrid applications.

Carbonized ZIF-67 , Emulsification , Enhanced oil recovery , Polymer adsorption , Polymer injectivity problems , Wettability alteration

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School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Environmental Systems, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

School of Mining and Geosciences
Laboratory of Environmental Systems
Civil and Environmental Engineering

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