A systematic review on nanotechnology in enhanced oil recovery

Primary objective of the paper is to represent the functionality of nanotechnology in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Nanoparticles can resist high temperature and pressure in subsurface oil reservoir system and exhibit different properties compared to same fine or bulk molecules. Due to small in size, it increases surface area and it creates massive diffusion driving force at higher pressure and temperature. In small surface area, it contains much higher concentration of atoms. Nanoparticles are used to modify optical, specific, thermal, interfacial properties of tight oil reservoir with 5–50 μm size pore diameter which consists trapped oil in place. Study reveals that by controlling nano mineral complexes can increase recovery of oil in oil field due to capillary hysteresis value change and specific behavior of clay mineral. Nanoparticles boost the oil recovery by mechanism of reduction in mobility ratio which reduces viscosity of heavy oil and interfacial tension and increase in fault lines permeability. Nanoparticles like silane treated silicon oxides, aluminium oxides in brine can be used. They have tendency of displacement of water and magnifies flow of oil in well. Some nanoparticles performance depends upon its operational condition for EOR process. In modern oil and gas domain by using EOR technique have oil recovery factor magnitude of 0.3–0.5; but by using nanotechnology there will be growth in oil & gas recovery efficiently and guarantying oil recovery factor range up to 0.5 to 0.6. It is not possible to know all application of nanotechnologies; but some experimental results and advanced technologies deduce that there is reduction in cost of hydrocarbon production for its market use by application of nanotechnology in EOR. Further advancement in nanotechnologies can increase more recovery of oil & gas