Nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent times for oil recovery purposes owing to significant capabilities in wettability alteration of reservoir rocks. Wettability is a key factor controlling displacement efficiency and ultimate recovery of oil. The present study investigates the influence of zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) and nickel (II) oxide (NiO) nanoparticles on the wetting preference of fractured (oil-wet) limestone formations. Wettability was assessed through SEM, AFM and contact angle. The potentials of the nanoparticles to alter oil-wet calcite substrates water wet, was experimentally tested at low nanoparticle concentrations (0.004–0.05 wt%). Quite similar behaviour was observed for both nanoparticles at the same particle concentration; while ZrO2 demonstrated a better efficiency by altering strongly oil-wet (water contact angle θ=152°) calcite substrates into a strongly water-wet (θ=44°) state, NiO changed wettability to an intermediate-wet condition (θ=86°) at 0.05 wt% nanoparticle concentration. We conclude that ZrO2 is very efficient in terms of inducing strong water-wettability; and ZrO2 based nanofluids have a high potential as EOR agents.
This study deals with the biostratigraphy of Shiranish Formation (Late Cretaceous), depending on the Ammonite and associated Foraminifera in four outcrop sections, three of which are located in Al-Sulaimaniya governorate (Dokan, Esewa and Kanny dirka sections) and one in Erbil governorate, northern Iraq (Hijran section). Fourteen species of Ammonite belonging to fourteen genera were determined, which are: Dsemoceratidae, Gaudryceras, Gunnarites, Hoplitoplacenticeras, Kitchinites, Kossmaticeratinae, Neancyloceras, Neokossmaticeras, Nostoceras, Paratexanites, Partschiceras, Phylloceras, Pseudophyllites and Yubariceras. Also, thirty- five species of Foraminifera belonging to thirteen genera w
... Show MoreTwenty clinical and fecal samples (ten clinical samples from patients attending to
Imam Ali Hospital and ten chicken faeces samples collected from local poultry farm
in Baghdad city) collected during December 2015, for isolated Klebsiella
pneumoniae. All K. pneumoniae isolates were extended-spectrum β- lactamase
producers and biofilm formation. The activities of two selected K. pneumoniae
isolates for their biofilm formation and susceptibility to antibiotics after treatment
with several plants extracts were investigated. The results of water and 60% ethanol
extracts for Matricaria chamomile flowers, Alhagi maurorum leafs, Syzygium
aromaticum buds (clove) and Arctium minus leafs were showed reduction of biofilm
Abstract Background: Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) often contaminate hospital environment and cause serious illnesses. Quorum Sensing (QS) regulates a variety of downstream cellular processes, including antibiotics resistance mechanisms and biofilm formation, and causes harm to the host. This study investigates antibacterial susceptibility and biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria in hospital environment. Methods: Hundred bacterial isolates were collected from various environments in the Medical City hospital. The antimicrobial susceptibility technique was evaluated through disk diffusion method. Next, biofilms formation was detected by the microliter plate assay. Finally, PCR was used to analyze the frequency of QS system gene
... Show MoreThe outcrop sections of Ora Formation (late Devonian-Early Carboniferous) in the Nazdor and Ora localities at the Northern Thrust Zone of Iraq were selected for this study. Lithologically the Ora Formation composed of clastic and carbonate rocks. The lower part in the Nazdor section cosists of crossbedded quartz arenite sandstone interbedded with successive laminated siltstone and shale. The lithology of the upper part in the Nazdor section and the upper part in Ora section, are composed of mixed silicalcastic (shale, siltstone and sandstone) and carbonate interbedded lithology. The petrographic study shows that the carbonate rocks consist of micrite and sparite groundmass. The skeletal grains include shallow water brachiopods, bryozoans
... Show MoreThe Amarah Oil field structure was studied and interpreted by using 2-D seismic data obtained from the Oil Exploration company. The study is concerned with Maysan Group Formation (Kirkuk Group) which is located in southeastern Iraq and belongs to the Tertiary Age. Two reflectors were detected based on synthetic seismograms and well logs (top and bottom Missan Group). Structural maps were derived from seismic reflection interpretations to obtain the location and direction of the sedimentary basin. Two-way time and depth maps were conducted depending on the structural interpretation of the picked reflectors to show several structural features. These included three types of closures, namely two anticlines extended in the directions of
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to investigate the sedimentation environments and diagenetic processes of the Ibrahim Formation (Oligocene-early Miocene) in Zurbatiya, eastern Iraq. The Ibrahim Formation is comprised mostly of clayey micrite and skeletal grains composed of planktonic foraminifera, calcispheres, radiolaria, and benthic foraminifera. Glauconite and pyrite were documented in some restricted zones of this formation; they reflect quiet and reducing conditions. Radiolaria were identified in Late-Oligocene which was not known previously at this age regionally in carbonate formations of the Arabian Plate (AP). Mudstone, wackestone, and planktonic foraminiferal wackepackstone are the main microfacies that are affected by dissolutio
... Show MoreThis research studies the petrography, mineralogy and diagenetic history of the Sarmord Formation at Sulaimani and Erbil Governorates in Northeastern Iraq. The Sarmord Formation consists mainly of alternated yellowish to bluish gray bedded marly limestone with yellowish gray soft marl beds. Petrographic investigations of the marly limestones were based on 270 thin sections and show that the skeletal grains include bioclasts, foraminiferas, radiolarians, calcispheres, echinoderms, ostracods and cephalopods. The groundmass is composed of micrite with light brown to gray colors, rich in organic materials and iron oxides. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the marls revealed that the abundant clay minerals in the Sarmord Formation ar
... Show MoreShear wave velocity is an important feature in the seismic exploration that could be utilized in reservoir development strategy and characterization. Its vital applications in petrophysics, seismic, and geomechanics to predict rock elastic and inelastic properties are essential elements of good stability and fracturing orientation, identification of matrix mineral and gas-bearing formations. However, the shear wave velocity that is usually obtained from core analysis which is an expensive and time-consuming process and dipole sonic imager tool is not commonly available in all wells. In this study, a statistical method is presented to predict shear wave velocity from wireline log data. The model concentrated to predict shear wave velocity fr
... Show MoreIn many oil-recovery systems, relative permeabilities (kr) are essential flow factors that affect fluid dispersion and output from petroleum resources. Traditionally, taking rock samples from the reservoir and performing suitable laboratory studies is required to get these crucial reservoir properties. Despite the fact that kr is a function of fluid saturation, it is now well established that pore shape and distribution, absolute permeability, wettability, interfacial tension (IFT), and saturation history all influence kr values. These rock/fluid characteristics vary greatly from one reservoir region to the next, and it would be impossible to make kr measurements in all of them. The unsteady-state approach was used to calculate the relat
... Show MoreThe Cretaceous Balambo Formation from three sections in Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq was studied. The selected sections are located in the Zagros Fold -Thrust Belt. Eleven rock samples were analyzed by means of the organic geochemical method, Bitumen extraction method, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the bitumen and hydrocarbon content, kerogen types, origin of organic matter, thermal maturity level, and depositional environment. The analyzed samples are considered to have an excellent potential in Baranan-1.G1 and Sazan sections, with poor to fair potential in Baraw section. The Baranan-1.G1 source rocks are of type II kerogen (oil prone), whereas Sazan and Baraw samples are of type II/III (oil/ gas prone). De
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