Nanostructured gels and sols for physicochemical and complex technologies intended to enhance oil recovery

Presented are the results of laboratory studies, pilot tests and commercial application of the technologies intended to enhance oil recovery and for water shutoff, using thermotropic nanostructured gels and sols. Inorganic and polymer gels and sols with one gel-forming component provide high efficiency in the course of water flooding and thermal-steam stimulation in the temperature range of 10–320°C. The new thermotropic nanostructured systems with two gel-forming components, polymer and inorganic, generating in situ “gel-in-gel” structures with improved rheological characteristics and structural-mechanical properties, proved to be promising.