Synthesis and Mechanistic Investigation of an Amphiphilic Polymer in Enhancing Extra-Heavy Oil Recovery via Viscosity Reduction.

When applied to extra-heavy oil, conventional polymer surfactants exhibit poor efficacy in reducing viscosity and have limited adaptability. In this work, a novel amphiphilic polymer named PAADB was prepared by incorporating 2-acryloylamino-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), benzyldimethyl [2-[(1-oxoallyl) zoxy] propyl] ammonium chloride (DML), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (BEM) into the main chain of acrylamide through free radical polymerization. PAADB exhibited outstanding interfacial activity, water-phase thickening ability, and emulsifying performance.

Application of Low-Salinity Waterflooding in Heavy Oil Sandstone Reservoir: Oil Recovery Efficiency and Mechanistic Study.

Low-salinity water injection (LSWI) is a recently emerged and promising technique to enhance oil recovery. In addition, it is attractive due to its relatively low-cost, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and very limited research has been conducted on heavy oil.

Experimental Investigation of Supercritical CO-Rock-Water Interactions in a Tight Formation with the Pore Scale during CO-EOR and Sequestration.

In recent years, gas injection, especially CO injection, has been acknowledged as a promising approach for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO capture and storage (CCS), especially for tight reservoirs. However, when CO is injected into the oil reservoirs, it can disturb the equilibrium of the system and lead to chemical reactions between CO, formation water, and reservoir rocks. The reactions will alter some geochemical and physicochemical characteristics of the target reservoirs.

Photocatalytic Activity Investigation of α-Zirconium Phosphate Nanoparticles Compositing with CN under Ultraviolet Light.

In order to further develop efficient ultraviolet light-driven photocatalysts for environmental application, α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) and carbon nitride (CN) were synthesized, respectively. Then, CN-ZrP compositing nanomaterials were prepared by compositing α-ZrP nanocrystals and CN with different mass ratios. CN-ZrP compositing nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The seepage flow characteristics of hydrophobically associated polymers with different aggregation behaviours in porous media.

The polymer solution for oil displacement is subjected to strong shear action in practical application, and this action will affect its percolation characteristics in porous media. The effects of mechanical shearing on the solution properties and seepage characteristics of modified hydrophobically associated polymers and dendrimers with two different aggregation behaviours were studied. The results showed that mechanical shearing did not affect hydrophobic microzones.