Enhancing foam stability and addressing asphaltene deposition for improved oil recovery in CCUS applications using aerogel nanoparticles

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is critical for reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating climate change. However, two major technical hurdles must be addressed for efficient implementation of CCUS. Sandpack experiments were conducted to examine the efficacy of silica aerogel nanoparticles in enhancing oil recovery and inhibiting asphaltene deposition. The nanoparticle co-injection increases oil recovery from 49.39% to 73.21% compared to sole CO2 flooding. Meanwhile, the CO2 sequestration rate within sandpacks rises remarkably from 45.35% to 83.37% with added nanoparticles. Additionally, produced oil asphaltene content increases from 4.33 wt% to 7.25 wt%. Experimental results show aerogel undergo flow diffusion from aqueous to oil phases, modifying interfacial properties. Aerogel-stabilized CO2-in-oil foams exhibit reduced interfacial tension and enhanced stability, impeding CO2 mobility. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal aerogel pores adsorb asphaltene molecules, preventing deposition. Overall, the multifunctional capabilities of aerogel nanoparticles to modify interfaces, stabilize foams, and inhibit asphaltene deposition provide pathways for optimizing CCUS efficiency.