Richard O. Afolabi

Optimizing the rheological properties of silica nano-modified bentonite mud using overlaid contour plot and estimation of maximum or upper shear stress limit

Abstract An optimization based statistical (response surface) approach was used to evaluate the rheological properties of bentonite mud treated with silica nanoparticles. The overlaid contour plot established the feasible region for the various factor settings from multiple regression equations. The steepest method was used to further determine the optimal factor settings for minimum rheological properties and this was established at 6.3 wt.% bentonite content and 0.94 wt.% silica nanoparticles. The rheological properties of the bentonite mud containing and without silica nanoparticles was evaluated using a Hyperbolic (new) model and related with other oil industry based models: Herschel Bulkley, Sisko, Casson. The hyperbolic rheological model estimated the rheological behaviour of the nano-modified mud satisfactorily while also predicting a shear stress limit for the nano-modified mud. The maximum shear stress limit values for 6.3, 13 and 15 wt.% mud were 14.59, 61.74 and 107.4 Pa respectively. Upper shear stress values obtained from a 1.5 wt.% silica nanoparticle modified 6.3, 13 and 15 wt.% bentonite mud were 22.27, 72.62 and 171.3 Pa respectively, which represents an increment of 34.5 to 37.4% in the upper limit of shear stress. The effect of silica nanoparticles on the upper shear stress limit was quantified using a response surface design.

Nanotechnology and global energy demand: challenges and prospects for a paradigm shift in the oil and gas industry

The exploitation of new hydrocarbon discoveries in meeting the present global energy demand is a function of the availability and application of new technologies. The relevance of new technologies is borne out of the complex subsurface architecture and conditions of offshore petroleum plays. Conventional techniques, from drilling to production, for exploiting these discoveries may require adaption for such subsurface conditions as they fail under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. The oil and gas industry over the past decades has witnessed increased research into the use of nanotechnology with great promise for drilling operations, enhanced oil recovery, reservoir characterization, production, etc. The prospect for a paradigm shift towards the application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry is constrained by evolving challenges with its progression. This paper gave a review of developments from nano-research in the oil and gas industry, challenges and recommendations.

Enhanced oil recovery for emergent energy demand: challenges and prospects for a nanotechnology paradigm shift

Renewable and non-renewable energy sources remain the two fronts for meeting global emergent energy demand. Renewable energy sources such as crude oil, in meeting energy needs, is a function of new hydrocarbon discoveries and improving the recovery of existing oil fields. However, new crude oil discoveries are made at a decreasing rate; likewise, existing fields are at a declining phase with conventional recovery techniques not being able to produce as much as two-thirds of the oil in place. In complementing existing oil recovery techniques, research into the use of nanotechnology has emerged as a potential alternative for tertiary oil recovery scheme. Despite the promising results, there has not been any reported large-scale field application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry except for some small-scale field trials. In this paper, a detailed review of developments on nano-enhanced oil recovery (Nano-EOR) and its attendant challenges are presented. Furthermore, key recommendations were given for future research on Nano-EOR. While the adoption of new technologies has its associated risks, the future prospects of Nano-EOR remains very high.

Dataset on the beneficiation of a Nigerian bentonite clay mineral for drilling mud formulation

This paper presents dataset on the beneficiation of a Nigerian clay mineral for drilling mud application. The experimental design applied used a Response Surface Design (RSM), which involved 24 (2-Level, 4-Factors) to generate statistical models, and analyze the dataset. The independent variables were (Bentonite; X1), (Polymer; X2), (Sodium Carbonate, X3) and (Aging Time; X4). The rheological properties of interest, which forms the response variables, were selected based on the API specification 13-A for drilling grade bentonite. The outcomes show that the second-order statistical models derived from responses fitted well with the experimental results. Predictive models obtained from the statistical characterization of the beneficiation process would allow for the design and cost-effective planning of the procedure. The beneficiation of the clay using sodium carbonate and Kelzan® XCD polymer ensued in an improvement in the rheological properties of the formulated drilling mud. These properties were comparable with the API specification 13-A for drilling fluid materials.

Rheology of Gum Arabic Polymer and Gum Arabic Coated Nanoparticle for enhanced recovery of Nigerian medium crude oil under varying temperatures

The dataset in this article are related to the rheology of dispersions containing Gum Arabic coated Alumina Nanoparticles (GCNPs) and Gum Arabic (GA) polymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) of Nigerian medium crude oil under varying temperatures. The data included the viscosity of the dispersion containing GCNPs compared to GA at different shear rates. In addition, data on the rheological properties (plastic viscosity, yield point, and apparent viscosity) of the dispersions under varying temperatures was also presented.

Dataset on experimental investigation of gum arabic coated alumina nanoparticles for enhanced recovery of nigerian medium crude oil

The dataset in this article are related to an experimental Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) scheme involving the use of dispersions containing Gum Arabic coated Alumina Nanoparticles (GCNPs) for Nigerian medium crude oil. The result contained in the dataset showed a 7.18% (5 wt% GCNPs), 7.81% (5 wt% GCNPs), and 5.61% (3 wt% GCNPs) improvement in the recovery oil beyond the water flooding stage for core samples A, B, and C respectively. Also, the improvement in recovery of the medium crude oil by the GCNPs dispersions when compared to Gum Arabic polymer flooding was evident in the dataset.

Model prediction of the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the fluid loss of water-based drilling mud

Abstract The use of nanoparticles in the formulation of drilling mud has gained unparalleled research effort. Despite the advancement of nanotechnology, key challenges still remain which relates to attaining predictable properties for nano-drilling muds. In this work, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized and applied to a water-based drilling mud. The characterization of the ZnO nanoparticles was done using Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). A basic fundamental approach was applied in deriving a novel model, which predicts the impact of the nanoparticles on the fluid loss of drilling mud during the filtration process. This was done taking into account the kinetics of mud cake formation and colloidal behavior of the nanoparticles. The new fluid loss model gave a better description of the fluid loss behavior of the nano-drilling mud when compared with the American Petroleum Institute (API) model using statistical measures.