Emulsion properties and plugging performances of active crude oil enhanced by amphiphilic Janus nanosheets

Abstract

Inadequate strength and stability of active crude oil emulsions stabilized by conventional surfactants always lead to a limited plugging rate of plugging agents. Thus, to address this issue, the synthesis of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets was effectively carried out for enhancing the system performances and subsequently characterized. Based on the outcomes of orthogonal tests, an assessment was conducted on the nanosheet and surfactant formulations to optimize the enhancement of emulsion properties. The experimental demonstration of the complex system has revealed its remarkable emulsifying capability, ability to decrease interfacial tension and improve rheological behavior at high temperature (80 °C) and high salinity (35,000 ppm) conditions. Involving probable mechanism of the system performance enhancement is elucidated by considering the synergistic effect between surfactants and nanosheets. Furthermore, variables including water-to-oil ratio, salinity, temperature and stirring intensity during operation, which affect the properties of prepared emulsions, were investigated in detail. The efficacy and stability of the complex system in obstructing medium and high permeability cores were demonstrated. Notably, the core with a high permeability of 913.58 mD exhibited a plugging rate of 98.55%. This study establishes the foundations of medium and high permeability reservoirs plugging with novel active crude oil plugging agents in severe environments.