Graphene-Ferrite Quantum Dots Nanohybrid Nanofluids: Stability, Density, and Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

This study addresses the common challenges of nanoparticle agglomeration and low stability in nanofluids used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Graphene-ferrite quantum dots (G-FQDs) were synthesized and characteized using various techniques and then dispersed in high-salinity brine at different concentrations. The G-FQDs nanofluids showed strong stability under harsh conditions and significantly reduced oil-brine interfacial tension from 46.6 to 24.3 mN/m. More importantly, they caused a pronounced change in rock surface wettability from oil-wet to water-wet. This wettability alteration was found to be more crucial than interfacial tension reduction in improving oil recovery, even at very low G-FQDs concentrations. Overall, G-FQDs-based nanofluids appear to be a promising, and cost-effective method for enhancing the mobility of residual oil in porous reservoirs.