Effect of silica-based hybrid nano-surfactant on interfacial tension reduction for enhanced oil recovery

Crude oil production has considerably stabilized economic growth on a global scale. Unfortunately, the difficulties of oil production from a reservoir is being a global concern. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is one of the methods employed recently to increase oil production rate. Nanotechnology has been identified as one of the effective EOR techniques employed using nanoparticles (NPs) as a suitable candidates. Altering a reservoir's petrophysical property such as reducing interfacial tension (IFT) between crude oil and other liquids is an essential factor that plays a significant role in EOR. Considering the significant effects shown by silicon dioxide (SiO2) and iron dioxide (Fe2O3) NPs in EOR, the present study is aimed at investigating the influence of Fe2O3-SiO2 hybrid NPs supported with a surfactant on IFT. The hybrid NPs were produced and separately incorporated with surfactants of anionic sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The physical and chemical properties of the hybrid NPs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, respectively. According to the results, the XRD pattern of the Fe2O3-SiO2 hybrid NPs displayed a crystalline structure of Fe2O3 NPs. The FTIR spectra of Fe2O3-SiO2 hybrid NPs showed characteristic absorptions of Fe2O3 and SiO2, indicating successful hybrid formation. The viscosity of Fe2O3-SiO2 nanofluids has increased from 0.95 to 1.85 cP. Upon introducing a hybrid nano-surface of SDBS and PVP, the viscosity values increased to 1.95 cP and 1.90 cP, respectively. Moreover, the Fe2O3-SiO2 hybrid NPs has reduced oil/brine/nanofluids IFT from 17.39 mN m−1 to 5.03 mN m−1. Additional reductions were observed when the surfactants were included. Consequently, IFT (mN m−1) was reduced from 17.39 to 3.08 for Fe2O3-SiO2-PVP and from 17.39 to 2.55 for Fe2O3-SiO2-SDBS. The finding of this study can help for a better understanding of the significant effect of silica-based hybrid nano-surfactant for IFT reduction which in turn could enhance oil production.