Effect of Nanomaterials on Improving the Apparent Viscosity of Heavy Oil and the Environmental Evaluation of Reservoir Environment
Ning Xu, Yanling Wang
Abstract
Heavy oil reservoirs have become an important potential for alleviating energy shortages and supporting economic development. This investigation aims to explore the influence of a nano heavy oil viscosity reducer and reservoir characteristics on crude oil viscosity and flow rate during the underground extraction process, and to reveal the viscosity reduction mechanism of reservoir crude oil. The results indicate that the prepared nano viscosity reducer can significantly weaken oil viscosity compared with the commercial viscosity reducer. Moreover, the nano viscosity reducer NVR (acting as a catalyst) achieves a much higher viscosity reduction performance than the commercial viscosity reducer CVR under the same conditions. Meanwhile, the dosage of nano viscosity reducer NVR shows the greatest impact on the viscosity reduction rate among the investigated factors, whereas the pyrolysis time exhibits the smallest influence. This investigation provides basic data for improving the flowability, mobility, and recovery of reservoir crude oil.