Evaluation of nanocomposites to enhance the effectiveness of our additives, which are designed to specified needs of each project.
For the next 30 years, global energy demand is projected to rise by almost 60%. A challenging trend that can only be achieved by revolutionary advances in energy science and technology. The industry needs cross-cutting discoveries in the mainstream sciences and engineering. Discoveries in nanotechnology open the possibility of moving beyond current alternatives. It is characterized by the collaboration between various disciplines making innovation inherent.
In the field of hydrocarbon production fluids, the door is open to a new type of fluids, which can be labeled as "Smart Fluid", which are becoming increasingly available in the hydrocarbon industry.
Nanofluids are designed by adding nanoparticles manufactured into a fluid to improve its properties. Essentially nanoparticles suspended in the liquid phase of low volumetric fractions.
The liquid phase can be any fluid, such as oil, water, or conventional fluid mixtures.
The nanoparticles used in the design of such fluids are preferably inorganic with properties of non-dissolution or aggregation in liquid environments. They can be designed to be compatible with reservoir fluids and be environmentally friendly. Experiments have shown some promising nanofluids, improving properties in drag-reducing agents, viscosity reducing agents, resins for sand consolidation, gels, products for wettability alteration, anti-corrosion coatings, well casing cement, drilling fluids, etc.
They have demonstrated, among other applications in the industry, to be catalysts of aquatermolysis reactions in processes of thermal recovery of hydrocarbons, among other applications in the industry
In the case of viscosity reductions, due to the implementation of nanofluids in heavy crudes, we have observed that the nanoparticles have positive effects on the modification of the internal structure of these crudes.
This is mainly due to their high selectivity with asphaltenes, which reduces the size of the aggregates by modifying the visco-elastic networks and reducing the viscosity of the crude.
In Smart Fluid, we continuously evaluate technological solutions to enhance the results of our solutions, incorporating in our nanosized additives compounds, and evaluating their results in each specific case raised by our customers.
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