(28f) New Method for Removing Formation Damage with Nanoparticle Dispersions

A new surface energy mechanism, based on recent joint industry-university research using nanoparticle dispersions (NPD) is now available to the oil and gas industry. Nanoparticle dispersions (or colloidal particle dispersions in the classic surface chemical sense) provide a unique enabling mechanism to improve the efficiency of fluids and additives in the performance of their intended actions during a number of reservoir intervention applications. This novel fluid chemistry has shown potential for improving stimulation fluid recovery, remediating wellbore damage issues such as paraffin, water block and deep induced imbibition, as well as enhancing the recovery of oil, gas and water from a wide range of reservoir types. Also being readied for implementation is the use of NPDs to provide increased hydrocarbon production and injection efficiency from water flooding and other improved hydrocarbon recovery operations. Increasing injectivity into saltwater disposal wells (SWD) has been accomplished in beta test field trials. Graphic experimental demonstrations of these mechanisms will be shown and discussed, with emphasis on their current and potential field treatment applications, and with comparisons to another successfully utilized additive technology.

This paper will focus on the colloidal dispersion of solid particles. The nanoparticles in NPD utilize a relatively new application for the mechanism of disjoining pressure by self-assembling into a wedge film once the nanoparticles encounter a discontinuous phase. Innovative, aqueous dispersed, amorphous silica nanoparticle (4 - 20 nm) fluids have been developed and tested which uniquely demonstrate disjoining pressure functioning with respect to wetting agent and nanoparticles dispersed in various type aqueous phases. This wedge film acts to separate formation fluids (oil, paraffin, water, and/or gas) from the formation's surface, thereby recovering more fluids than previously possible with conventional additives or fluids. Several examples of the use of disjoining pressure to improve fluid efficiency will be shown along with case studies from beta testing.