SUSPENSIONS FOR REMOVING HYDROCARBONS FROM SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS AND RELATED METHODS
A suspension for removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation includes a fluid comprising at least one of water, brine, steam, carbon dioxide, a light hydrocarbon, and an organic solvent; and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed with the fluid. Nanoparticles of the plurality comprise silica and carbon. A method includes forming a plurality of nanoparticles and dispersing the plurality of nanoparticles with a fluid to form a suspension comprising the nanoparticles. A method of recovering a hydrocarbon material includes introducing a 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. The suspension comprises a plurality of nanoparticles, and at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise silica and carbon.
1 . A suspension for removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, the suspension comprising:
a fluid comprising at least one of water, brine, steam, carbon dioxide, a light hydrocarbon, and an organic solvent; and
a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed with the fluid, at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprising both silica and carbon.
2 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise a silica nanoparticle attached to at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon nanodots, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and functionalized carbon nanotubes.
3 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality of nanoparticles exhibit a mean diameter from about 5 nm to about 50 nm.
4 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality are hydrophilic.
5 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise silica and carbon bonded by hydroxyl groups.
6 . The suspension of claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant.
7 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise silica and carbon quantum dots.
8 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises liquid water.
9 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the suspension comprises a concentration of the nanoparticles from about 10 ppm to about 10,000 ppm.
10 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise functionalized carbon.
11 . The suspension of claim 10 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise hydrophobic functionalized carbon.
12 . The suspension of claim 10 , wherein the at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprise hydrophilic functionalized carbon.
13 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the suspension is substantially homogeneous.
14 . The suspension of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are monomodal.
15 . A method of removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
introducing a suspension into a subterranean formation, the suspension comprising:
a fluid comprising at least one of water, brine, steam, carbon dioxide, a light hydrocarbon, and an organic solvent; and
a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed with the fluid, at least some nanoparticles of the plurality comprising both silica and carbon;
forming a stabilized emulsion in the subterranean formation, the stabilized emulsion comprising the nanoparticles and a hydrocarbon from the formation; and
withdrawing the stabilized emulsion from the subterranean formation.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising passing the suspension through perforations in the subterranean formation.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising destabilizing at least a portion of the stabilized emulsion removed from the subterranean formation to form distinct, immiscible phases including at least an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein destabilizing at least a portion of the stabilized emulsion comprises modifying a property of the stabilized emulsion selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, material composition, and pressure.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein destabilizing at least a portion of the stabilized emulsion comprises adding an acid to the stabilized emulsion.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising recovering at least a portion of the nanoparticles.