This book assesses the current development and potential applications of nanoparticle
technology in oil industry and explores new research directions in this frontier field. It
outlines the theory and practical challenges of the nanoparticle colloidal behavior in oil
matrixes and aqueous solutions the interactions between rock and nanofluid nanoparticles and
asphaltenes and the surface phenomena relevant to the application of this technology. The book
also describes the transport behavior of nanoparticles in oil sand media for in-situ upgrading
and recovery of heavy oil. Currently the main objectives of applying nanoscale materials in
oil industry are the remediation of formation damage the improvement of energy efficiency the
abatement of environmental footprints and the increment of recovery factors of oil reservoirs
to name a few. The book consists of 15 chapters with contributions by leading experts in the
topics of fabrication methods opportunities and challenges in the oil & gas industry modeling
and application of nanofluids in the field and environmental applications of nanoparticles. The
growing demand for oil has led to the need to exploit unconventional oil resources such as
heavy and extra-heavy crude oil. However in the current context upgrading and recovery of
heavy oil are highly energy and water intensive which consequently results in environmental
impacts. Therefore it is necessary to search for new ideas and alternatives in the field of
in-situ and ex-situ upgrading and recovery to improve current technologies and make them both
environmentally sound and cost-effective. Research conducted by the authors and numerous other
researchers has shown that nanoparticle technology could be successfully employed for enhancing
the upgrading and recovery of heavy oil with cost-effective and environmentally friendly
approaches. Examples on the applications of nanoparticles in heavy oil include the adsorption
oxidation and gasification cracking of asphaltenes a problematic constituent present in heavy
oils in-situ upgrading of the Athabasca bitumen by multi-metallic in-situ prepared
nanocatalysts the inhibition of precipitation and deposition of asphaltnes and the enhanced
perdurability against asphaltene damage in oil sands porous media by injection of nanofluids
sequestration of oil from spilled by nanoparticles cleaning up oil sand process affected water
by integrating nanoparticle with conventional treatment processes etc.
