Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) Fluid in EOR Using Core Flooding Method Under The Presence of Electromagnetic Waves

A non-invasive method is proposed by applying nanotechnology in EOR under the presence of electromagnetic waves to increase oil recovery from high pressure and high temperature reservoir. Therefore, a study on potential of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) fluid in EOR under the presence of electromagnetic waves was carried out. Firstly, MWNT was characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM). The characterization result shows that MWNT that is being used in this research are in cylindrical shape and have multiwall. Three phases core flooding experiments were carried out to improve oil recovery using MWNT fluid. The first two phases of the experiment is to study the impact of MWNT fluid concentration and flow rate on permeability under the absence of electromagnetic waves. The results of the first two phases of the experiments shows that 0.01wt% of MWNT fluid being injected into the porous medium at the flow rate of 2ml/min under the absence of electromagnetic wave causes the least reduction in permeability with the ability to recover 36.67% of residual oil in place (ROIP) from the porous medium. Injection of MWNT fluid under the presence of electromagnetic waves yielded a 61.1% of recovery efficiency, which is 24.43% higher than the 36.67% of recovery efficiency when MWNT fluid was injected into the porous medium under the absence of electromagnetic wave. It is investigated that the drastic increment in recovery efficiency is due to adsorption of electromagnetic wave by MWNT which causes the causes the oil viscosity to be reduced and hence, increases oil recovery.