SPE 155213

Effect of Nanoparticles on Migrating Fines in Formations

Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Research Group
Naomi Ogolo, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Olalekan Olafuyi, Department of Petroleum Enginerring, University oof Benin, Edo State, Nigeria
Mike Onyekonwu, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE International Oilfield Nanotechnology Conference held in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1214 June 2012.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

ABSTRACT
Fines migration in reservoirs is a serious problem because it gives rise to several problems in hydrocarbon production. Several
methods have been proposed and applied to manage this problem but some have failed, some have been ineffective while
others consolidate wellbore formations. Rendering formation fines immobile by attaching them to the formation matrix is the
best option in controlling migrating fines in reservoir formations. There are indications that the presence of certain
nanoparticles in the formation can prevent fines migration by fixing them to the formation.
This project therefore investigates the fines trapping capacity of nine nanoparticles in sand packs. The ability of nano treated
sands to retain the clays they contain at high flow rates of low salinity water capable of moving fines was examined. The effect
of hydrocarbons on the performance of these nanoparticles and other conditions that affect ce their performances were studied.
The best performing nanoparticles and the ideal dispersing fluids that aids in accomplishing this task were determined.
Experimental results show that dispersing the right kind of nanoparticles in reservoir formations can control fines migration
thereby preventing the primary and secondary problems caused by unconsolidated reservoir formations. Field application of
this technique will in addition optimize hydrocarbon production and flow assurance.
INTRODUCTION
Over the years, tackling fines migration problem has been limited to near wellbore formations. Since the problem emanates
from unconsolidated reservoir formations, tackling the wellbore formations alone cannot provide a lasting solution to the
problem. A proper solution is one that goes beyond the wellbore far into the reservoir because that is where the fines are
generated from. Attaching formation particles to the rock matrix, strengthening the attractive bonds between these particles
and the rock matrix and preventing dislodgement of these particles from their parent rock even at high flow rates are all
essential in preventing fines migration in reservoirs.
Some researchers have speculated and suggested that some nanoparticles possess the ability to prevent fines migration in
formations. This paper therefore seeks to identify these nanoparticles by experimenting with them. The experiments were
primarily aimed at finding out the nanoparticles that can prevent fines contained in sands from migrating at high flow rates.

SPE 155213

This is important because research has shown that one major factor that triggers fines migration in hydrocarbon formations is
high production flow rates. Another major trigger factor is injected fluids and water invasion of which low salinity brine is the
most common. For this reason, low salinity brine was used for the flow experiments on nano soaked sands containing fines
from clays. This experiment also seeks to find the best nanoparticle dispersing fluid that could aid trap fines in formations. In
addition, the performance of the nanoparticles in organic and in inorganic environments were investigated. The essence was to
find out the effect of hydrocarbons on the performance of the nano agents.
BACKGROUND
Increase in production rate of fluids from reservoirs is a major factor that induces fines migration. Production of fines and sand
during oil and gas exploitation occur when induced in-situ stresses exceed the formation in-situ strength. In competent
formations, sand production is due to shear failure while for weak and unconsolidated formations, sand production occur when
the drag forces caused by flowing fluid exceed the natural inherent cohesion of the formation (Isehunwa et al, 2010). There is a
critical flow rate beyond which the hydrodynamic force exceeds the binding forces holding the formation particles together.
When this in-situ cohesive binding force is exceeded, fines dislodge from their matrix structure and start migrating with the
flowing fluids. It has been shown experimentally that reduction of hydrocarbon flow rates reduces fines from migrating in
reservoirs. For economic reasons however, it is not feasible to maintain very low rates in production and this makes the option
unattractive.
Fines migration has been shown to be controlled by wettability. In multiphase flow, particles move only when the wetting
phase moves. Most clays and sands are water wet, not oil wet and as such would not move in the non-wetting phase. For this
reason, they tend to be mobilized in flowing fluids when water is present. For fines to move in the wetting phase, an adequate
saturation of the wetting phase is necessary to achieve a continuous phase that mobilizes the fines. Since water wetness
induces fines migration, making the formation oil wet might control the problem but will be detrimental to oil recovery
because oil wet formations yield low recovery factors (Willhite, 1986).
Pressure depletion is one of the causes of sand production. As pressure decreases, sand grains are rearranged and bonds are
weakened or broken. High reservoir pressures can compact sand grains and prevent dislodgement of formation particles. In the
absence of cementing minerals in porous media, a high confining pressure works as a cementing material by pressing the sand
grains to each other. Upon contact, sand grains hold each other by cohesion. Unconsolidated sands become loose if there is no
confining pressure and at high confining pressures, high flow rates can be achieved without sand production (Al-Awad et al,
1999). Therefore, pressure depletion in reservoirs can induce fines migration and natural low reservoir pressures can result in
unconsolidated formations.
Many methods have been proposed to address fines migration problem in formations. One of such methods of controlling fines
is surface adsorption polymerization (SAP) technique which forms a thin film on the surface of particles. The ultra thin film
formed is very stable and effectively immobilizes fines on pore surfaces. Berea cores used to conduct experiments to test the
effectiveness of SAP treatment and two case history reports of its application show that migration of fines was stabilized by
SAP treatment with no loss in permeability (Maberry et al, 1998). Other cases to show how effective SAP has been have also
been reported (Saldungaray et al, 2001and Sharma et al, 1994). Other chemical agents that have been used are surface
modification agent (SMA), water based agglomerating agents (WBAA) and ultra-thin tackifying agent (UTTA). Reports have
also shown that they are good (Ligthford et al, 2006; Nguyen et al, 2010; Weaver et al, 2010; Nguyen et al, 2005). The
interesting thing about these polymers is that Aluminum oxide is their major composition. Clay stabilizers containing

SPE 155213

compounds of Aluminum and Zirconium have been experimented with and positive results have been reported from their use
(El-Monier et al, 2010; El-Monier2 et al, 2011and El-Monier et al1, 2011). Organosilanes have demonstrated beneficial effects
such as compression strength of formations (Kotlar et al, 2005 and Kurawle et al, 2009). Disadvantages associated with these
chemicals include high costs, large amounts required to carry out a task and permeability issues.
Use of Nanoparticles
The use of nanoparticles in control of fines migration and sand production is still under investigation. Since some compounds
have had a degree of success in controlling migrating fines, the nano scale of such compounds could possibly enhance the
performance of these compounds. Some research projects already conducted in this area have indicated positive signs for this
possibility (Huang et al, 2010). An investigation was done to find out if the presence of the nano agents negatively affects
conductivity through proppants. This result shows that the pressure of the nanoparticles did not negatively affect fluid
conductivity (Huang et al, 2008). A field case study to investigate how nano treated proppants can control fines migration on
an offshore frac pack was carried out in a well in the Gulf of Mexico. The results indicate that nanoparticles can fixate
migrating fines to proppants which improves well productivity, prevents formation damage and other associated problems.
Another laboratory experiment and nanoparticle field application showed that nano treated proppants captured and retained
migrating fines while untreated proppants had no affinity for migrating fines (Belcher et al, 2010) In all of these reported
laboratory work and field applications, there is no indication that permeability impairment resulted from nanoparticle
application, instead permeability seems to have been enhanced. This is a big advantage of nanoparticle application over other
chemicals and sand control techniques that have been used in the past to control migrating fines in formations.
In a recent study, the efficiency of different nanoparticles to control migrating formation fines was investigated. Three types
of nanoparticles experimented with were Silica, Alumina and Magnesium Oxide (MgO). Two kinds of test were conducted to
assess the performance of these nano agents in preventing fines migration. The effluent from the conducted tests showed that
magnesium oxide nanoparticle is the most effective nano agent that can control fines migration amongst the three types of
nanoparticles used. For the first test, the adsorption efficiency of Magnesium Oxide, Alumina and Silica nanoparticles
compared to the reference sample were 12.8%, 4.3% and 9.27% respectively. Further tests on using Magnesium Oxide
nanoparticles were conducted to find the ideal concentration to use and the hydrodynamic forces required to release trapped
fines mechanically. The results showed that increase in nanoparticle concentration leads to fines migration reduction. At
0.2wt% Magnesium Oxide nanoparticle concentration, the attraction forces between the pore surfaces and the fines were high
enough to hold the fines in place even at very high fluid flow rates. The amount of fines produced during the flooding
operation did not change at a velocity higher than 1000cc/hr. It was also reported that at higher flow rates than the critical
value, migrating fines were not noticed (Habibi et al, 2011).
Materials
The main items used for the experiment include sand, nanoparticles, fines and low salinity brine. Nine types of nanoparticles
were used in this work and these were selected because they have potentials for trapping fines in formations as suggested by
some researchers. These nanoparticles are: Aluminium oxide (Al2O3), Magnesium oxide (MgO), Zinc oxide (ZnO), Iron oxide
(Fe2O3), Nickel oxide (Ni2O3), Tin oxide (SnO2), Zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hydrophobic Silicon oxide (SiO2(H)) and Silane
treated silicon oxide (SiO2 (S)). The nanoparticles were bought from Skyspring Nanomaterials, Inc., Houston, Texas, USA.
The sizes of the nanoparticles are given on Table 1. Each type of these nanoparticles was dispersed in four different fluids at
the concentration of 3g/L. The dispersing fluids were distilled water, brine (with salinity of 30g/L), ethanol and diesel.

SPE 155213

Distilled water and brine were not used for hydrophobic Silicon oxide nanoparticles because it is not dispersible in polar
liquids.
Eldex pump (Optos) was used to inject low salinity (5g/L) brine into the nano soaked sands. Low salinity brine was used
because it is often present in reservoirs and is a common fluid that triggers fines migration in reservoir formations.
Montmorillonite and Kaolinite clays served as fines in the experiment and each make up 50% of the fines used. The clay
minerals were bought from Clay Minerals Society, USA. The porosity of the sand used to perform the experiments was about
39%. Crude oil was also used in order to find its effect on the performance of the nanoparticles since some chemicals agents
that perform well in inorganic environments end up performing poorly in hydrocarbon environments. The properties of the oil
used are given on Table 2.
Experimental Procedure
Dry sand was evenly mixed with 0.5% wt of dry fines. The sands were then soaked in nanofluids (without water) for at least
48hours. Water was not used (except where it is used as a dispersing medium for the nanoparticles) because the fines
immediately go into solution in the presence of water. Low salinity brine of 5g/L was then injected into the sand from the
bottom of the pack using a pump as shown in Fig. 1. Brine flowed through the sand against gravity and was collected as
effluent. The rate of flow was gradually increased from 0.2ml/min to 0.3ml/min, 0.4ml/min etc until the fines in the sand were
produced in the water effluent before the experiments were terminated. Each flow rate was made to run for 5 minutes before
moving up to the next higher flow rate.
Two sets of experiments were conducted under atmospheric conditions. The first was conducted in the absence of crude oil
while the second was conducted in the presence of crude oil. The essence is to find out if the presence of oil affects the
performance of the nanoparticles in any way. All experiments were conducted under atmospheric pressure because high
pressure tends to hold formation particles together while low pressure makes them loose and prone to migration. Atmospheric
pressure (which is very low compared to reservoir pressures) therefore creates a condition that renders the fines and sand
grains prone to migration. This means that if the fines can be prevented from moving under low pressure, there is a high
tendency that the fines will not migrate under high pressures.
Results and Discussions
The results of experiments conducted in the absence of oil are presented on Table 3. Figure 2 shows that under an inorganic
environment, brine generally is very good as a dispersing medium for nanoparticles in trapping fines when compared with
distilled water and ethanol. The only exceptions in this case are Magnesium oxide where brine gave a low value and in the
reference experiment where ethanol gave the best result. Figure 2 also indicates that generally distilled water is very poor in
trapping fines in sand; it rather enhances fines migration even at very low flow rates with Magnesium oxide as an exception.
From Figure 2, it is also noticed that Zinc oxide recorded the highest flow rate in the absence of oil.
The results of experiments conducted in the presence of oil are presented on Table 4. Figure 3 shows again that under a
hydrocarbon environment, brine is also the best nanoparticles dispersing fluid that aids in controlling migrating fines in
formations. The only exceptions to this (just like in the inorganic environment) are the reference experiments and experiments
using Magnesium oxide. From this Figure, outstanding nanoparticles that are good fines trapping agents in sand using brine
(when subjected to hydrocarbon environment) are the oxides of Aluminium, Nickel, Zirconium and Silane treated Silicon.
Aluminium oxide in distilled water gave the best result in the presence of oil amongst these four kinds of nanoparticles. It is

SPE 155213

worthy of note (from Figures 3 and 4) that Zinc oxide in brine gave the highest flow rate and best result in the absence of oil.
But in the presence of oil, the result of Zinc oxide in brine is one of the lowest. This proves that the presence of oil can have
significant effects in the performance of nanoparticles that trap fines in sands.
Figures 4 to 6 compares the performance of these nanoparticles in organic and inorganic environments. It is evident from these
figures that most of the nanoparticles were influenced by the presence of hydrocarbon in the system. The performances of
some of the nanoparticles were influenced negatively by the presence of oil while others were influenced positively in
preventing migration of fines in sand. For example, Fig. 4 indicates that the presence of oil in sand enhanced the performance
of the Aluminium oxide in trapping fines while it renders Magnesium oxide and Tin oxide (all in distilled water) less effective.
Figure 5 shows that the fines controlling capacity of Aluminium oxide, Nickel oxide, Zirconium oxide and Silane treated
Silicon oxide (all in brine and) in the presence of oil is well enhanced than in the absence of oil. In fact these nanoparticles
gave the best results in all the experiments. Fig. 6 shows that with ethanol as the nanoparticles dispersing medium in sand,
only Nickel oxide in the presence of oil recorded a high flow rate before fines finally moved.
From all the recorded results, Aluminium oxide dispersed in distilled water gave the highest flow rate of 9.1ml/min. in the
presence of oil. Nickel oxide in ethanol also gave a good rate of 8.0ml/min. in the presence of oil. However, brine still gave
very good results with 8.2ml/min., 8.5ml/min., 8.1ml/min. and 8.0ml/min. for the oxides of Aluminium, Nickel, Zirconium
and Silane treated Silicon respectively. Brine therefore is the best dispersing medium for these nanaoparticles in formations.
This is because brine is readily available, cheap, naturally present in formations and as such is more compatible with the
formation and crude. Distilled water on the other hand is expensive, does not occur naturally in formations and so the issue of
compatibility with the formation and crude will arise. Besides, distilled water is not good for oil recovery.
Observations
The following are observations made during the course of the experiments.
1.

The oil produced from the use of Tin oxide, Zirconium oxide and Zinc oxide looks like a sludge. This could result
from a chemical reaction between the oil (diesel and crude), water, clays and the nanoparticles of the oxides.

2.

There were particles migrating along with the produced diesel and oil with the use of some nanoparticles. Probably
the sand grains and fines have been rendered oil wet and so move with the wetting phase.

3.

Starting fluid injection suddenly at high rates or sudden jumps from a particular flow rate to a very high rate without
gradual step ups triggers fines migration of clays even with the best performing nanoparticles that can prevent these
fines from migrating in sands.

4.

Once fines of clay have broken through in brine especially due to sudden high rises in flow rates, reducing flow rates
hardly controls the situation nor stops the fines from being produced. It is therefore advisable not to trigger fines
migration in sands by sudden increases in flow rates because once fines of clay start migrating, it is difficult to control
or stop. If the fines however are mainly sand particles, then lowing flow rates can effectively control particle
migration.

5.

Water effluents from the use of nanoparticles of Magnesium oxide, Aluminum oxide and zinc oxide in diesel were
very clean. The effluent from Iron oxide in ethanol was also very clean.

6.

With Magnesium oxide dispersed in diesel, there tends to be permeability problems. This could have risen from
certain chemical reactions because the produced diesel looks cloudy, not clear like in some other cases (for example
the diesel effluent from Nickel oxide).

SPE 155213

Use of Diesel as a Dispersing Fluid for Nanoparticles

As a result of certain limitations, experiments performed with the use of diesel a nanoparticles dispersing fluid in sand could
not be conducted to the end. However, obtained results and observations show that diesel would have been the best fluid for
dispersing nanoparticles because the flow rates were very high (>19.5ml/min.) for most of the nanoparticles. This is not
surprising because the sand grains were rendered oil wet and oil wet sands tend to hold formation particles together.
Nevertheless, it was also observed in some cases that fines and sand particles were found flowing along with diesel out from
the sand. This is possible because fines migrate in the wetting phase and so if the particles were made oil wet (because they
were mixed dry and soaked directly in diesel without any water for 48 hours before injection of low salinity brine) and the
system was highly saturated with diesel at the onset of the experiment, then fines could migrate in the oil phase. The oil wet
sand grains and fines and high diesel saturation in the system may have given rise to fines migration in oil (diesel) flow. These
conditions may have prevented the fines from flowing in the water phase thus giving rise to very high flow rates without
particle migration in the water phase.
It must be emphasized that practically rendering formation particles oil wet in actual reservoir formations is difficult. This is
because the presence of water in hydrocarbon formations (especially interstitial water and natural water encroachment) is
inevitable since it is a natural phenomenon. It therefore more practical to disperse the nanoparticles in formations using brine
than diesel, coupled with the fact that diesel is more expensive than brine. Additionally, since crude oil naturally exists in
hydrocarbon formations thereby partially wetting the sand grains, it may not be necessary to introducing any other organic
fluid into the system.
Effect of Flow rate on Migrating Fines
One important observation made during the experiments is that fines and sand grains were triggered to motion at sudden high
flow rates. When rates are gradually increased step by step at the onset of the experiment, fines do not move. When the
experiments were already running (at a particular flow rate), sudden drastic rise in flow rates agitates the sand particles,
dislodging them from their initial positions. Even with the use of the best nanoparticles that can fix fines in positions in sands,
if flow rates are not gradually increased step by step, allowing the fines and sand grains to stabilize in the slightly higher flow
rate, particles will dislodge from their positions and will be put in motion. This implies that increasing fluid flow rates
gradually enhances the performance of the nanoparticles. To successfully prevent fines of clay from migrating in sands at high
flow rates using nanoparticles, the increase in flow rates should be conducted gradually, not sudden jumps. If this procedure
can be followed along with the use of good fines trapping nanoparticles, then high flow rates can be attained without particle
migration from hydrocarbon formations.
The mineral composition of migrating particles also has a role to play in control of migrating particles in sands by lowering
flow rates. It was observed that it is easier to control particle migration in sand by lowering flow rates when the particle
composition is mainly sand grains than when it is made of clayey fines. When the migrating particles are mainly composed of
sand grains, lowing flow rates can control and even stop the problem. But when the main composition of the migrating
particles are clay minerals, reducing flow rates (when fines are already in motion due to sudden high flow rates) does little or
nothing to control the situation. This emphasizes the need to find out the mineral composition of formations prior to
production. It also stresses the importance of not suddenly jumping to high flow rates because clay minerals are hardly absent
in any formation. Gradual step by step method of increasing flow rates should be adopted.

SPE 155213

Conclusions
Conclusions drawn from this work are:
1.

Sudden high flow rates trigger fines migration and once it starts, controlling production of clayey fines by lowering
flow rates is less effective.

2.

Sudden high flow rates can trigger fines migration even in the presence of very good fines trapping nanoparticles in
sand.

3.

Gradually stepping up flow rates instead of sudden high jumps enhances the performance of nanoparticles in
attaching fines to the sand matrix.

4.

Brine is the best nanoparticle dispersing fluid in sand that aids control migrating fines in formations.

5.

Good nanoparticles that have shown the capacity to prevent clayey fines from migrating by attaching the fines to sand
gains are Aluminum oxide, Nickel oxide, Zirconium oxide and Silane treated Silicon oxide.

6.

The presence of hydrocarbons in sands has a positive influence on the performance of the nanoparticles in trapping
fines.

Recommendation
From the obtained results and observations made during the experiments, the following recommendations are made:
1.

Brine should be used to disperse nanoparticles in hydrocarbon sands if the aim is to prevent formation fines from
migrating.

2.

The nanoparticles of Aluminium oxide, Nickel oxide, Zirconium oxide and Silane treated Silicon oxide can trap fines
in hydrocarbon formations, but Aluminum oxide tends to be the best.

3.

Do not suddenly start oil production from reservoirs with high flow rates, start from a low rate and gradually increase
the flow rates step by step.

4.

If a well is already producing from a reservoir, do not suddenly jump from low flow rates to a high flow rate, step up
the flow rates gradually so as not to trigger fines migration.

Summary
Fines Migration in hydrocarbon formations is an age long problem peculiar to unconsolidated formations. High production
rates and low salinity brine are two major factors that trigger this problem in formations and little or nothing can be done to
control these factors since they are essential for sustaining hydrocarbon production. Some nanoparticles have been speculated
by researchers to possess the capacity to prevent fines from migrating in formations. This work therefore aimed at
experimentally identifying the type of nanoparticles that can control migrating fines in formations along with the best
dispersing fluid that can aid accomplish this task. The ideal conditions that enhance the performance of these nano agents were
also investigated. Nine kinds of nanoparticles and four kinds of dispersing fluids were experimented with.
Two sets of experiments on flow rates capable of moving fines from nano soaked sands using low salinity water were
conducted. The first set of experiment was conducted in the absence of crude oil while the second was conducted in the
presence of crude oil. Obtained results generally indicate that the presence of crude oil in sands, the use of brine as the
nanoparticles dispersing fluid and gradual increaments in flow rates all contribute in enhancing the performance of the
nanoparticles. In all, nanoparticles of Aluminum oxide, Nickel oxide, Zirconium oxide and Silane treated Silicon oxide yielded
very good results at preventing fines migration in sand at high flow rates compared to the reference experiments. To improve
the efficiency of nanoparticles in trapping fines in sands, abrupt rises in flow rates through sands should be avoided.

SPE 155213

S\No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Table 1: Some Properties of the Nanoparticles used

Type of Nanoparticles
Particle Size (nm)
Surface Area (m2/g)
Aluminium Oxide
40
~ 60
Magnesium Oxide
20
~ 50
Iron Oxide
20-40
40-60
Nickel Oxide
100
6
Tin Oxide
50-70
10-30
Zinc Oxide
10-30
90
Zirconium Oxide
20-30
35
Silane Treated Silicon Oxide
10-30
>400
Hydrophobic Silicon Oxide
10-20
100-140

Table 2: Properties of the oil

Properties
Value
o
Density @ 27 C 0.9114g/cc
Viscosity
53.27735cp
API Gravity
22.44o

Table 3: Rate Experimental Results in the Absence of Crude Oil

S/No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Types of Nanoparticles
Reference Experiment
Aluminum Oxide
Magnesium Oxide
Iron Oxide
Nickel Oxide
Tin Oxide
Zinc Oxide
Zirconium Oxide
Silane Treated Silicon Oxide
Hydrophobic Silicon Oxide

Rate at which fines move (ml/min.)

Distilled water
Brine
Ethanol
0.2
0.6
1.5
2.1
2.3
1.5
2.0
1.5
1.9
0.2
1.8
1.9
0.2
2.1
1.9
0.7
1.1
0.7
0.2
3.0
0.7
0.2
1.0
0.4
0.2
2.3
0.8
X
X
0.6

Table 4: Rate Experimental Results in the presence of Crude Oil

S/No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Type of Nanoparticles
Reference Experiment
Aluminium Oxide
Magnesium Oxide
Iron Oxide
Nickel Oxide
Tin Oxide
Zinc Oxide
Zirconium Oxide
Silane Treated Silicon Oxide
Hydrophobic Silicon Oxide

Rate at which fines move (ml/min.)

Distilled water
Brine
Ethanol
0.2
0.5
0.8
9.1
8.2
0.7
1.7
1.4
1.8
0.2
1.2
1.8
0.2
8.5
8.0
0.2
1.4
1.7
0.2
0.7
1.2
0.2
8.1
1.5
0.2
8.0
1.9
X
X
0.9

SPE 155213

Figure 1: The Experimental Setup

Flow Rate Experiments in the Absence of Crude Oil

Flow Rate (ml/min.)

3.5
3
2.5
Distilled water

Brine

1.5

Ethanol

1
0.5
0
Ref.
Exp.

AlO3

MgO

Fe2O3 Ni2O3

ZnO

ZrO2

SnO

SiO2
(S)

SiO2
(H)

Type of Nanoparticles

Figure 2: Flow Rates that moved Fines in the Absence of Oil

Flow Rate (ml/min.)

Flow Rate Experiments in the Presence of Crude Oil

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Distilled water
Brine
Ethanol

Ref.
Exp.

AlO3

MgO

Fe2O3 Ni2O3

ZnO

ZrO2

SnO

SiO2
(S)

SiO2
(H)

Type of Nanoparticles

Figure 3: Flow Rates that moved Fines in the Presence of Oil

10

SPE 155213

Flow Rate (ml/min.)

Flow Rate Experiments Using Distilled water

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

In the Absence of
Crude Oil
In the Presence of
Crude Oil

.
xp

E
f.
Re

O3
Al

gO

3
3
2O
2O
Ni
Fe

O
Zn

O
Zr

)
)
O
(S
(H
Sn
2
2
O
O
Si
Si

Type of Nanoparticles

Figure 4: Flow Rates that moved Fines in Sands Soaked in Distilled Water

Flow Rate Experiments Using Brine

Flow rate (ml/min.)

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

In the Absence of
Crude Oil
In the Presence of
Crude Oil

.
xp
E
f.
Re

O
Al

3
M

gO

)
)
3
3
2
O
(S
(H
nO
rO
2O
2O
Zn
i
S
2
2
Z
e
N
O
F Type
of Nanoparticles SiO
Si

Figure 5: Flow Rates that moved Fines in Sands Soaked in Brine

Flow Rate Experiment Using Ethanol

(H
)

(S
S

iO

2
S

iO

nO
S

Zr
O

Zn
O

gO
Fe
2O
3
N
i2
O
3

lO
A

ef
.E

In the absence of
Crude Oil
In the Presence of
Crude Oil

xp
.

Flow Rate (ml/min.)

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Type of Nanoparticles

Figure 6: Flow Rates that moved Fines in Sands Soaked in Ethanol

Acknowledgement
We thank Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) very much for sponsoring this research project.

SPE 155213

11

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