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چکیده
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The nanotechnology’s application in enhanced oil recovery of depleted or heavy oil reservoirs has been increased during last decade. One enthusiastic enhanced oil recovery technique is nano-flooding, where considerable reduction in contact angle and interfacial tension at oil/water interfaces can favorably displace water with oil production from reservoirs. In this research, there is an attempt to review the application of zinc oxide nanoparticles for interfacial tension, contact angle reduction, and inhibiting asphaltene deposition. Because nanoparticles require less concentration of nanocomposites than conventional chemical enhanced oil recovery technologies, working with them is safer and more affordable. The zinc oxide nanoparticles with their small sizes can transport easier through reservoir porous media, and modifying mainly includes wettability alteration, interfacial tension reduction, changing disjoining pressure, emulsification, and preventing asphaltene molecules from aggregation that all help more oil recovery. In this study, recent advances in novel and green nanocomposites in combined with zinc oxide for asphaltene deposition and EOR scenarios were reviewed. Results exhibited zinc oxide nanoparticles can reduce interfacial tension and contact angle dramatically, and prevent asphaltenes from deposition. In some cases, zinc oxide nanoparticles caused 93.6% decrease (lowering 31.8 mN/m to 2.016 mN/m) in interfacial tension, and 82.6% decrease (lowering from 161° to 28°) in contact angle that led to displacing water, and improving flow of oil toward production wells. Zinc oxide also can disperse asphaltene molecules and prevent asphaltene deposition by near 12 wt. %. More than 83% oil recovery can be achieved by zinc oxide nanoparticles flooding.
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