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ABSTRACT
Some nanoparticles and fluid dispersants that have the capacity to control migrating fines in formations have been investigated. The primary mechanisms through which fines were trapped and prevented from migrating were electrostatic forces of adsorption of which the pH value of nanofluids played a significant role. The pH values and zeta potential of the nanofluids, were used to explain the trapping of fines in the presence of silicon nanoparticles at varying concentration. Electric double layer is the major force responsible in trapping and preventing fines migration. Other forces can also be used in analyzing fines migration in porous media.
Results indicate that silicon oxide nanoparticle with lower concentration has high capacity to trap fines and prevent them from migrating in sands. The pH value of hydrophobic silicon oxide in ethanol were quite low, implying that their zeta potentials were high and so contributed to the good performance of the nanoparticles. Zeta potential was calculated by a modified Smoluchowski equation. Water is not a good fluid dispersant, it was noticed more fines were produced when water was used as a dispersing fluid. These could have occurred mainly as a result of various intermolecular forces of attraction. It was concluded that the pH values of the nanofluids and its related properties work together with electric double layer force of attraction to trap fines in sands.
