Importance of the Nanofluid Preparation for Ultra-Low Interfacial Tension in Enhanced Oil Recovery Based on Surfactant–Nanoparticle–Brine System Interaction

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the preparation of the nanofluids based on the interactions between the surfactants, nanoparticles, and brine for being applied in ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) for an enhanced oil recovery process. Three methodologies for the addition of the salt-surfactant-nanoparticle components for the formulation of an efficient injection fluid were evaluated: order of addition (i) salts, nanoparticles, and surfactants, (ii) salts, surfactants, and then nanoparticles, (iii) surfactants, nanoparticles, and then salts. Also, the effects of the total dissolved solids and the surfactant concentration were evaluated in the interfacial tension for selecting the better formulation of the surfactant solution. Three nanoparticles of different chemical natures were studied: silica gel (SiO2), alumina (γ-Al2O3), and magnetic iron core-carbon shell nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential, N2 physisorption at -196 °C, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the interactions between the surfactant, different types of nanoparticles, and brine were investigated through adsorption isotherms for the three methodologies. The nanofluids based on the different nanoparticles were evaluated through IFT measurements using the spinning drop method. The adsorbed amount of surfactant mixture on nanoparticles decreased in the order of alumina > silica gel > magnetic iron core-carbon shell nanoparticles. The minimum IFT achieved was 1 × 10-4 mN m-1 following the methodology II at a core-shell nanoparticle dosage of 100 mg L-1.