Influence of Nano-Particle on Pore Throat Distribution in Micro-Porous Using High Intrusion Mercury Porosimetry in Sandstone Reservoir

摘要

This study focuses on silicon nanoparticles as a method for influencing the pore throat distribution or pore shape. The silicon nanoparticles can be utilized in enhancing oil recovery by means of two mechanisms, wettability alteration and interfacial tension reduction. Initially, core sample should be measured in respect to physical properties, such as air permeability and effective porosity. Such data shall be used for the interpretation of the results of this technique and the assessment of the application of Nano-technology in performing the Nano-solutions injection process through the capillary pressure and the pore throat distribution. This paper introduces the application of data attained from the High Injection Mercury Porosometer method to explore the pore throat distribution by means of cleaning and finding the nanoparticles inside the porous media in core samples. It is revealed that the highest concentration of the solution volume obtained in more visible nanoparticle adsorption process on grains surface. This nanoparticle is adsorbed inside the surface of pores and in reduced pore radius such as macro-pore, meso-pore and micro-pore. The results provide new insights to the effect of nanoparticles on solid surfaces during EOR or other applications in oil industry. This change towards more adsorption and blocked conditions indicated by increased concentration of Nano-particle solutions is accompanied by significant increase in the change of pore diameters. Pore redistribution technique within the pore space is suggested to clarify the autonomous of pore size distribution in sandstone reservoir. In addition to those findings, for nanoparticle synthesis optimization, Nano-techniques by surface coating and surface chemistry techniques instead of un-coating nanoparticle are realized.