**4. Conclusions**

In this study, partially hydrophilic silica nanoparticles adsorption and aggregation in porous media has been demonstrated through quantitative and qualitative

**253**

**Figure 21.**

**Figure 20.**

with water.

*Aggregation of Partially Hydrophilic Silica Nanoparticles in Porous Media: Quantitative…*

*Micromodel porous network during brine injection and in contact with silica nanoparticles. Gelled-like* 

*suspension formed at most of the porous area marked in red arrow.*

analysis. Four water wet Buff Berea cores treated with 0.05% silica nanoparticles at 30 and 60°C were evaluated. Micromodel added qualitative information through visualization of silica nanoparticles aggregation in the porous network. The results

*Micromodel porous network during brine injection (after 1 week ageing). Most of the gelled like suspension pushed out from the porous network. Some adsorbed silica nanoparticles strained inside the porous network.*

• The permeability impairment of treated core at 60°C is slightly lower compared to 30°C. The sharp increase in pressure drops at 60°C during initial silica nanoparticles provided important information of potential logjamming effect that caused by aggregation of nanoparticles when in contact

derived from the experimental work concluded as follows:

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92101*

*Aggregation of Partially Hydrophilic Silica Nanoparticles in Porous Media: Quantitative… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92101*

#### **Figure 20.**

*Nano- and Microencapsulation - Techniques and Applications*

brine injection indicate size reduction from the front (ROI 1/ ROI 4) to end (ROI 3/ ROI6). After one week aging, the aggregates size decreased at about 10% and below at ROI 3/ROI 5 for 1st brine injection, then decreased at ROI 1, ROI 3 and ROI 5 for 2nd brine injection. The coarse size range during 1st/2nd brine injection are signifi-

*Micromodel porous network during silica nanoparticles injection. Silica nanoparticles flowed through porous* 

In this study, partially hydrophilic silica nanoparticles adsorption and aggregation in porous media has been demonstrated through quantitative and qualitative

cant which fall between 190 and 340 μm and 160–430 μm.

*media marked in red circle at ROI 1, ROI 2, ROI 3, ROI 4, ROI 5 and ROI 6.*

**252**

**4. Conclusions**

**Figure 19.**

**Figure 18.**

*Micromodel porous network before fluid injection.*

*Micromodel porous network during brine injection and in contact with silica nanoparticles. Gelled-like suspension formed at most of the porous area marked in red arrow.*

#### **Figure 21.**

*Micromodel porous network during brine injection (after 1 week ageing). Most of the gelled like suspension pushed out from the porous network. Some adsorbed silica nanoparticles strained inside the porous network.*

analysis. Four water wet Buff Berea cores treated with 0.05% silica nanoparticles at 30 and 60°C were evaluated. Micromodel added qualitative information through visualization of silica nanoparticles aggregation in the porous network. The results derived from the experimental work concluded as follows:

• The permeability impairment of treated core at 60°C is slightly lower compared to 30°C. The sharp increase in pressure drops at 60°C during initial silica nanoparticles provided important information of potential logjamming effect that caused by aggregation of nanoparticles when in contact with water.



#### **Figure 22.**

*The average size of silica nanoparticles at fine, medium and coarse classification (a) during initial brine injection (b) brine post flush after 1 week aging.*


**255**

**Author details**

Ahmad Fadhil Jahari2

Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia

Siti Rohaida Mohd Shafian1,2\*, Ismail M. Saaid2

provided the original work is properly cited.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

and Sonny Irawan3

1 PETRONAS Research Sdn Bhd, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

2 Petroleum Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS,

3 School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

\*Address all correspondence to: rohaidashafian@petronas.com.my

, Norzafirah Razali1

,

*Aggregation of Partially Hydrophilic Silica Nanoparticles in Porous Media: Quantitative…*

• Micromodel test enable the visualization of silica nanoparticles aggregation in the porous network when in contact with brine. This observation supported the high pressure drops value during core flood when nanoparticles in contact with in-situ brine. Most of the aggregates at coarse section of micromodel

The author would like to thank Wan Shah Rizal Abdullah, Ms. Fatin Najihah

Jasni, Ms. Nurul Syuhada M Sobri and Mr. Zulkarnain Harom, Ms. Afidah Sastro for their assistance in the laboratory. The use of equipment facilities at PETRONAS Research Sdn Bhd (under allocation E.025.JRD.02017.401) and support by Nazarbayev University (research funding ID: 080420FD1911) is gratefully

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92101*

**Acknowledgements**

acknowledged.

**Conflict of interest**

network flushed out during brine post flush.

*Aggregation of Partially Hydrophilic Silica Nanoparticles in Porous Media: Quantitative… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92101*

• Micromodel test enable the visualization of silica nanoparticles aggregation in the porous network when in contact with brine. This observation supported the high pressure drops value during core flood when nanoparticles in contact with in-situ brine. Most of the aggregates at coarse section of micromodel network flushed out during brine post flush.
