Improvement of Steam Injection Processes Through Nanotechnology: An Approach through in Situ Upgrading and Foam Injection

This study aims to evaluate a high-performance nanocatalyst for upgrading of extra-heavy crude oil recovery and at the same time evaluate the capacity of foams generated with a nanofluid to improve the sweeping efficiency through a continuous steam injection process at reservoir conditions. CeO2±δ nanoparticles functionalized with mass fractions of 0.89% and 1.1% of NiO and PdO, respectively, were employed to assist the technology and achieve the oil upgrading. In addition, silica nanoparticles grafted with a mass fraction of 12% polyethylene glycol were used as an additive to improve the stability of an alpha-olefin sulphonate-based foam. The nanofluid formulation for the in situ upgrading process was carried out through thermogravimetric analysis and measurements of zeta potential during eight days to find the best concentration of nanoparticles and surfactant, respectively. The displacement test was carried out in different stages, including, (i) basic characterization, (ii) steam injection in the absence of nanofluids, (iii) steam injection after soaking with nanofluid for in situ upgrading, (iv) N2 injection, and (v) steam injection after foaming nanofluid. Increase in the oil recovery of 8.8%, 3%, and 5.5% are obtained for the technology assisted by the nanocatalyst-based nanofluid, after the nitrogen injection, and subsequent to the thermal foam injection, respectively. Analytical methods showed that the oil viscosity was reduced 79%, 77%, and 31%, in each case. Regarding the asphaltene content, with the presence of the nanocatalyst, it decreased from 28.7% up to 12.9%. Also, the American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity values increased by up to 47%. It was observed that the crude oil produced after the foam injection was of higher quality than the crude oil without treatment, indicating that the thermal foam leads to a better swept of the porous medium containing upgraded oil.