New nanotechnology-based approaches are increasingly being investigated for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), with a particular focus on heavy oil reservoirs. Typically, the addition of a polymer to an injection fluid advances the sweep efficiency and mobility ratio of the fluid and leads to a higher crude oil recovery rate. However, harsh reservoir conditions, including high formation salinity and temperature, can limit the performance of such polymer fluids. Recently, nanofluids, that is, dispersions of nanoparticles (NPs) in a base fluid, have been recommended as EOR fluids; however, such nanofluids are unstable, even under ambient conditions. In this work, a combination of ZrO2 NPs and the polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer (ZrO2 NPs–PAM) was used to formulate a novel nanopolymer injection solution for EOR applications to overcome the limitations of simple PAM solutions by the in situ reservoir conditions including high temperature and salinity. A series of measurements were comprehended at controlled pH values to measure the stability and rheological properties of NPs–PAM combinations at different temperatures, salinities, NP concentrations, and shear rates. It is depicted from the results that a higher salinity decreased the viscosity of the polymer formulation. However, ZrO2 NPs–PAM combinations reduced the effect of increased salinity on viscosity, which is essential for EOR applications. Furthermore, at low and medium shear rates, which are more relevant to the flow scenarios in oil reservoirs, ZrO2 NPs–PAM exhibited a higher viscosity than the PAM solution at the same pH and salinity. In contrast, at higher shear rates, the viscosity of ZrO2 NPs–PAM was less than that of the sole PAM solution. Mechanistically, an increased shear rate endorsed the adsorption of polymer molecules onto the surface of NPs, foremost to a lesser polymer concentration in the solution. Moreover, although ZrO2 nanodispersion was unstable at all NPs and salt concentrations, ZrO2 NPs–PAM was stable over an extensive range of salinities and temperatures. The results suggested that ZrO2 NPs–PAM is more suitable than the sole polymer or NP solutions for EOR projects.
As an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), the alkali-activated binders have been developed with better technical characteristics and more extended durability. The Alkali-Activated Iraqi Natural Pozzolans (AANP) could produce geopolymer cementation building materials and make them ecologically acceptable. The primary advantage of geopolymer cement is that it has a lower environmental effect that contributes to it. The engineering characteristics of geopolymer concrete produced using activated Iraqi natural Pozzolan are summarized in this research. The mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of various concrete mixes were determined via exp
As an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), the alkali-activated binders have been developed with better technical characteristics and more extended durability. The Alkali-Activated Iraqi Natural Pozzolans (AANP) could produce geopolymer cementation building materials and make them ecologically acceptable. The primary advantage of geopolymer cement is that it has a lower environmental effect that contributes to it. The engineering characteristics of geopolymer concrete produced using activated Iraqi natural Pozzolan are summarized in this research. The mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of various concrete mixes were determined via experimental study. The impact of essential variables like w
... Show MoreWe studied the changing of structural and optical properties of pure and Aluminum-doped ZnO thin films prepared by thermal evaporation technique on glass substrates at thickness (800±50)nm with changing of annealing temperatures ( 200,250,300 )℃ for one hour. The investigation of (XRD) indicates that the pure and doped ZnO thin films were polycrystalline of a hexagonal wurtzite structure with preferred orientation along (002) plane. The grain size was decreased with doping before annealing, but after annealing the grain size is increasing with the increase of annealing temperature for pure film whereas for the doped films with ratios 1 %, 2 % we found that the grain size is larger than that before annealing. The grain size
... Show MoreInfluence of metal nanoparticles synthesized by microorganisms upon soil-borne microscopic fungus Aspergillus terreus K-8 was studied. It was established that the metal nanoparticles synthesized by microorganisms affect the enzymatic activity of the studied culture. Silver nanoparticles lead to a decrease in cellulase activity and completely suppress the amylase activity of the fungus, while copper nanoparticles completely inhibit the activity of both the cellulase complex and amylase. The obtained results imply that the large-scale use of silver and copper nanoparticles may disrupt biological processes in the soil and cause change in the physiological and biochemical state of soil-borne microorganisms as well.
Abstract
The hydrometallurgical method was used to platinum and palladium leaching with aqua regia solution (3HCl: HNO3). The leaching experiments were designed to obtain the optimum conditions by using Taguchi method with 16 experiments at three different factors (time, temperature and solid to liquid ratio), and each factor has four different levels. In this study, leaching the powder sample of catalytic converter that contains platinum and palladium was conducted on the basis of the formation of chloro complexes platinum and palladium (PtCl62-, PdCl42-) with different concentrations in the acidic solution. The optimum condi
... Show MoreIn this paper synthesis and extensive investigation of the microstructural and optoelectronic properties of polyaniline (PANI), Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) and MWCNTs reinforced PANI composites is presented. MWCNTs- PANI composites have been deposited by spin coating on silicon wafer substrate. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy shows no difference between PANI and its composites. However a change in peaks shape and absorption intensity has been observed. A strong effect of the MWCNTs weight percentage on the PANI/MWCNTs composites has been demonstrated. It was find that the thermal stability improved with increasing MWCNTs content. The optical band gap of the PANI thin
A friction stir spot welding (FSSW) process is an emerging solid state joining process in which the material that is being welded does not melt. In this investigation an attempt has been made to understand the effect of tool shoulder diameter on the mechanical properties of the joint. For this purpose four welding tools diameter (10,13, 16 and 19) mm at constant preheating time and plunging time were used to carry
out welding process. Effect of tool diameter on mechanical properties of welded joints was investigated using shear stress test and Microhardness of joint which welded was studied. Based on the stir welding experiments conducted in this study the results show that aluminum alloy (1200) can be welded using (FSSW) process with
In this study, the upgrading of Iraqi heavy crude oil was achieved utilizing the solvent deasphalting approach (SDA) and enhanced solvent deasphalting (e-SDA) by adding Nanosilica (NS). The NS was synthesized from local sand. The XRD result, referred to as the amorphous phase, has a wide peak at 2Θ= (22 - 23º) The inclusion of hydrogen-bonded silanol groups (Si–O–H) and siloxane groups (Si–O–Si) in the FTIR spectra. The SDA process was handled using n-pentane solvent at various solvent to oil ratios (SOR) (4-16/1ml/g), room and reflux temperature, and 0.5 h mixing time. In the e-SDA process, various fractions of the NS (1–7 wt.%) have been utilized with 61 nm particle size and 560.86 m²/g surface area in the presence of 12 m
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