Methods of recovering hydrocarbons using suspensions for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery
First Claim
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1. A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material, the method comprising:
- forming a suspension comprising polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles;
introducing the suspension into a subterranean formation containing hydrocarbons;
forming a stabilized emulsion of the suspension and the hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation; and
removing the emulsion from the subterranean formation.
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Abstract
Suspensions comprising polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles and at least one carrier fluid. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane may include functional groups and the suspension may further comprise carbon-based nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles. Related methods of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation using the suspension. The method comprises contacting hydrocarbons with the suspension to form an emulsion stabilized by the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles.
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20 Claims
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1. A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material, the method comprising:
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forming a suspension comprising polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles; introducing the suspension into a subterranean formation containing hydrocarbons; forming a stabilized emulsion of the suspension and the hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation; and removing the emulsion from the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of extracting a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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mixing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles with a carrier fluid, wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane has the general formula RSiO1.5, wherein R comprises hydrogen, an inorganic group, or an organic group; introducing the carrier fluid into a subterranean formation and contacting hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation with the nanoparticles to form an emulsion comprising the nanoparticles, an aqueous phase, and a hydrocarbon phase dispersed within the aqueous phase; transporting the emulsion to a surface of the subterranean formation; and separating the hydrocarbons from the emulsion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification