**5. Conclusions**

The goal of this chapter was to present the current strategies in oil recovery and how traditional techniques can be boosted by means of the nanotechnology, introducing the development of a reservoir simulation using CFD techniques. There is a need of optimizing the production of conventional oil sources while more sustainable energy resources are developed and a smooth transition between these can be carried out. One of the techniques used to evaluate the performance of these methods is reservoir simulation, a branch of engineering that emerged in recent years, used to justify and analyze the execution of E&P investments. Among EOR processes, chemical agents show a great potential in different oil fields, being mostly used in low- and medium-viscosity fields. A way to improve their efficiency is to use the nanotechnology in order boost the advantages of these chemical agents.

A novel mathematical model of porous media flow for a combined EOR/nanotechnology process is presented during this chapter, using a (hyper)branched polymer with several possible architectures, coupled with nanoparticles of different wettabilities. The mathematical model is represented by the momentum (Darcy) and mass conservation laws, using a compositional approach due to its versatility to model multiphase, multicomponent systems. There are several physical phenomena present in EOR flooding, and the combination of chemicals and nanoparticles affects some of them, studied in this chapter, presenting a set of formulas to implement these in a reservoir simulator. The polymer architecture is key factor in the oil recovery, with branched (e.g., comb/star) polymers yielding better recovery factors than linear ones. On the other hand, nanoparticle flooding increases the oil recovered by altering the rock wettability, allowing the organic phase to flow more easily. Thus, the synergy between both agents presents a great potential for its application in field tests.

All in all, nanotechnology-enhanced chemical EOR flooding could represent a novel and improved technique, considering the advantages and synergy of the agents being injected. Nanotechnology represents a breakthrough in EOR processes, and it is a perfect example of how well-developed, standard techniques can be enhanced by using the advantages of materials exhibited at the nanoscale.

### **Nomenclature**

further recovery of oil. This can be appreciated in **Figures 14** and **15**. The final oil saturation in the field decreases significantly when the nanoparticles are used, especially alongside the diagonal line connecting both wells, where the velocities

*Oil saturation after 3000 days for a linear polymer flooding (a) and a combined nanoparticles + polymer*

*Oil saturation after 3000 days for the waterflooding (a), linear polymer (b), and the nanoparticle and*

The influence of the nanoparticles is more evident in the areas with low permeabilities (**Figures 14** and **15**) in which both waterflooding and linear polymer could not desaturate completely. On the other hand, the polymer + nanoparticle flooding modified the wettability of the formation, increasing the mobility of the oil phase,

reach the highest values.

*polymer (c) EOR flooding schemes [12].*

*Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations*

**Figure 14.**

**Figure 15.**

**134**

*flooding (b) [12].*

rendering lower residual saturations.



**References**

**98**:111-123

93-101

[1] Owen NA, Inderwildi OR, King DA. The status of conventional world oil reserves-hype or cause for concern? Energy Policy. 2010;**38**:4743-4749

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89757*

[11] Suslick SB, Schiozer D,

*Numerical Modeling of Nanotechnology-Boosted Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods*

of Groningen; 2018

Rodriguez MR. Uncertainty and risk analysis in petroleum exploration and production. Terrae. 2009;**6**:30-41

[12] Druetta P. Numerical simulation of chemical EOR processes [Ph.D. thesis]. Groningen, The Netherlands: University

[13] Raffa P, Druetta P. Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: Advances in Polymer Flooding and Nanotechnology. Berlin, Germany: De Gruyter; 2019.

[14] The Royal Society & The Royal Academy of Engineering Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties. London, UK: The

[15] Holsapple M et al. Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, part II: Toxicological and safety evaluation of nanomaterials, current challenges and data needs. Toxicological Sciences. 2005;**88**:12-17

[16] Balshaw D, Philbert M, Suk W. Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, part III: Nanoscale technologies for assessing risk and improving public health. Toxicological

[17] Tsuji J et al. Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, part IV: Risk assessment of nanoparticles. Toxicological Sciences. 2006;**89**:42-50

[18] Borm P et al. Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, part V: Role of dissolution in biological fate and effects of nanoscale particles. Toxicological Sciences. 2006;**90**:23-32

[19] Powers K et al. Research strategies for safety evaluation of nanomaterials. part VI: Characterization of nanoscale

Sciences. 2005;**88**:298-306

ISBN: 978-3-11-064024-3

Royal Society; 2004

[2] Maugeri L. Oil: The next revolution

Rep. 2012-10. Belfer Center for Science

[3] Maggio G, Cacciola G. When will oil, natural gas, and coal peak? Fuel. 2012;

[5] Hughes L, Rudolph J. Future world oil production: Growth, plateau, or peak? Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 2011;**3**:225-234

[6] Dake LP. Fundamentals of Reservoir

[7] Donaldson EC, Chilingarian GV, Yen TF. Enhanced Oil Recovery, I: Fundamentals and Analyses.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science; 1985. ISBN: 978-0-08086-872-1

[8] Satter A, Iqbal GM, Buchwalter JL.

[9] Encyclopædia Britannica Petroleum Trap. 2012. Available from: https:// www.britannica.com/science/petrole

Practical Enhanced Reservoir Engineering. Tulsa, USA: PennWell Books; 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59370-056-0

[10] Asrilhant B. A program for excellence in the management of exploration and production projects. In: Offshore Technology Conference. Houston, USA: Society of Petroleum

Engineering. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Elsevier; 1978. ISBN:

0-444-41830-X

um-trap

**137**

Engineers; 2005

[4] Chapman I. The end of peak oil? Why this topic is still relevant despite recent denials. Energy Policy. 2014;**64**:

discussion paper. In: Tech.

and International Affairs; 2012
