Regulation of nanoparticle adsorption interface on droplet migration and blockage in micropore throat

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20241446

Abstract

Abstract:

Droplet blockage in micropore throats in the late stage of reservoir development has an adverse effect on the actual oil production process. Nanoparticles adsorbed at the emulsion interface reduce interfacial tension and induce interfacial viscoelasticity. Understanding their role in regulating emulsion migration and blockage in micro-pore throats is of significant importance. This study uses microfluidic visualization experiments to investigate the influence of nanoparticles on droplet blockage during migration. By analyzing the relationships between droplet size, critical blockage flow rate, and critical blockage capillary number, the mechanism by which nanoparticle adsorption affects droplet blockage is elucidated. Specifically, the induced interfacial viscoelasticity exacerbates droplet blockage during migration. A mathematical model for the critical conditions of droplet blockage is derived using droplet equilibrium relations. By examining the phase diagram of droplet migration and blockage states, the critical transition conditions for blockage are determined, demonstrating that droplets are more readily captured and blocked in micro-pore throats due to nanoparticle adsorption at the interface.

Key words: micropore throat, nanoparticle, trapped droplet, microfluidic

摘要：

油藏开发后期液滴堵塞于微孔喉中对实际采油过程造成不利影响。纳米颗粒吸附于液滴界面降低界面张力并诱发界面黏弹性，研究其对微孔喉中液滴运移及堵塞的调控机制具有重要意义。通过微流体可视化实验，研究了纳米颗粒吸附界面对液滴在运移时发生堵塞的影响规律。通过分析液滴尺寸与临界堵塞流量以及临界堵塞毛细数的变化关系，得到纳米颗粒吸附界面对液滴堵塞行为的影响机理，即诱发界面黏弹性加剧运移液滴的堵塞，利用液滴平衡关系推导出液滴堵塞临界条件的数学模型。通过分析液滴运移及堵塞的状态分布相图，确定堵塞状态的临界转变条件，证明了纳米颗粒吸附界面具有的界面黏弹性使运移液滴更容易被微孔喉捕获而堵塞，为油藏开发中纳米驱调控技术提供科学依据。

关键词: 微孔喉, 纳米颗粒, 液滴堵塞, 微流体

CLC Number:

TE 31

Pinxian LI, Feng GUO, Zhengyuan LUO, Boyao WEN, Bofeng BAI. Regulation of nanoparticle adsorption interface on droplet migration and blockage in micropore throat[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(6): 2929-2938.

李品贤, 郭峰, 骆政园, 温伯尧, 白博峰. 纳米颗粒吸附界面对微孔喉中液滴运移及堵塞的调控[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(6): 2929-2938.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the experimental system, microchannel structure, and the limited blockage of droplets at the pore-throat section of the microchannel

Table 1 The relative parameters for three different fluid systems

试剂组别	COOH-PS(质量分数)/%	NH₂-PDMS-NH₂(质量分数)/%	γ/(mN/m)	ρ/(g/cm³)	μ/(mPa·s)
纯水纯油	0	0	25.2±0.6	—	—
仅添加纳米颗粒	0.5	0	24.7±0.4	—	—
纳米颗粒表面活性剂	0.001	1	12.0±0.7	0.998(W)/0.963(O)	1(W)/10O)
	0.005	1	10.3±0.7	—	—
	0.05	1	6.4±0.8	—	—

Fig.2 Time evolution of the same size droplet (L/w1 = 6.5) passing through the pore-throat structure under different flow rates (a)、(b); the distribution phase diagram of the blocked state of the clean interface droplet (c) (The dotted line represents the theoretical prediction of the blocked state and the non-blocked state)

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of the force analysis while the droplet is blocked in the micropore throat

Fig.4 Time evolution of migration droplets (the same size L/w1 = 3.5) passing through the micropore throat under the action of different reagents. (a) Pure liquid group, flow rate q = 4.0 μl·min-1; (b) Pure liquid group, flow rate q = 2.9 μl·min-1; (c) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.5%, and the flow rate q = 3.5 μl·min-1; (d) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.5%, and the flow rate q = 3.1 μl·min-1; (e) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.005%, the concentration of polymer surfactant was 1%, and the flow rate was 1.6 μl·min-1; (f) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.005%, the concentration of polymer surfactant was 1%, and the flow rate q = 0.9 μl·min-1; (g) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.5%, the concentration of polymer surfactant was 1%, and the flow rate q = 1.5 μl·min-1; (h) The concentration of nanoparticles was 0.005%, the concentration of polymer surfactant was 1%, and the flow rate q = 1.0 μl·min-1

Fig.5 The distribution phase diagram of the blocked state of the droplet under different groups of reagents

Fig.6 Effect of different concentrations of nanoparticles surfactant on the critical blocking capillary number of droplets

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