Investigation on the effect of CuO nanoparticles on the IFT and wettability alteration at the presence of [C12mim][Cl] during enhanced oil recovery processes

Abstract In the current study, effect of CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) at presence dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C 12 mim][Cl]) is investigated on interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, wettability alteration, and even tertiary oil recovery. Since prepared solutions with CuO-NPs are completely dark it impossible to measure IFT these in crude using pendant drop method (since one phases must be transparent for measurement method), n-heptane (representative saturates) toluene aromatics) used only by CuO-NPs, while rest experiments performed oil. The obtained results reveal that not stable aqueous solution absence surfactant which means fast precipitation a high risk pore plugging. this way, stability dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium ([C12mim][Cl]) as an effective stabilizing (more than 1 month without 1000 ppm IL). Further measurements although IL can reduce oil/aqueous system, especially formation brine (0.65 mN.m −1 ), has no considerable IFT. On other hand, contact angle (CA) alteration toward water-wet condition (68.3° concentration ppm) but also addition significantly boost strongly (23.4° CuO-NPs). Finally, several core flooding different combinations chemicals find recovery factor. enhance injected chemical slug (aqueous dissolution factor 10.1% based Original place (OOIP)) 13.8, %, 16.9%, 21.2% OOIP if 500, 1000, 2000 existed concomitant [C mim][Cl].