Silica-Based Nanoparticles: Outlook in the Enhanced Oil Recovery

In recent years, nanotechnology has become increasingly important in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, in terms of both perspectives and practical applications. Nanoparticles, with their exceptional properties (chemical, electrical, structural, and mechanical) are proving to be useful for freeing trapped oil. Specifically, silica-based nanoparticles (SiO2-based NPs) are making a positive impact on various aspects of petroleum extraction, such as rheological and stabilization characteristics of drilling fluids, wettability alteration, interfacial tension reduction, and emulsion stability improvements. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the applications of SiO2-based NPs in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and the challenges associated with their use. It covers four methods of making nanoparticles, explores how SiO2-based-NP-involved nanofluids affect the EOR process, discusses the underlying mechanisms of nanoparticle-based EOR, briefly mentions how instrumentation is used in the oil and gas industry, and addresses the challenges of using SiO2-based nanoparticles in EOR, while also suggesting areas for future research.