Patent attributes
Asphaltene formation in a hydrocarbon-bearing zone is mitigated with the injection of nanoparticles. In one embodiment, a method of mitigating asphaltene formation comprises: providing an injection fluid comprising water, foam, carbon dioxide, natural gas, methane, ethane, nitrogen, propane, butane, flue gas, exhaust gas, steam, alkali, polymer, surfactant, or any combination thereof; providing nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise nickel oxide, alumina, silica, silicate based, iron oxide (Fe3O4), impregnated nickel on alumina, synthetic clay, iron zinc sulfide, magnetite, iron octanoate, or any combination thereof; injecting a combination of the injection fluid and the nanoparticles into a hydrocarbon-bearing zone, wherein the nanoparticles are injected such that asphaltene formation is reduced compared to injection without the nanoparticles; and recovering fluids produced from the hydrocarbon-bearing zone, the fluids having a reduced concentration of asphaltenes compared to injection without the nanoparticles.
