Nanoparticle design for enhanced oil recovery
US10392555B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K2208/10
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of designing a nanoparticle tailored to support hydrocarbon recovery in a subterranean formation, a method for using nanoparticles to extract hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation, and a nanoparticle structure. The method may include determining environmental conditions of a subterranean formation, defining nanoparticle parameters based on the environmental conditions, and forming a nanoparticle comprising the nanoparticle parameters. The method may include producing a colloidal suspension of nanoparticles by mixing nanoparticles with water and injecting the colloidal suspension of nanoparticles into a subterranean formation. A nanoparticle structure may include a hydrophilic material in a defined three-dimensional shape having a maximum diameter. The nanoparticle may penetrate through an oil-water interface with an optimized contact angle, minimize an interfacial area between oil and water, and create an oil in water emulsion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.