The Architecture of BaTiO3 Nanoparticles Synthesis via Temperature-Responsive for Improved Oil Recovery: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Core-Flooding Experimental Study

This research investigates the influence of various concentrations of BaTiO3 nanofluid on adsorption energy and improved oil recovery. BaTiO3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a Sol-gel approach at temperatures of 400 °C, 500 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C and characterized for their structural and morphological properties and interfacial tension (IFT)/Wettability measurement. The study focuses on using ferroelectric nanofluid in combination with an electromagnetic field to enhance oil recovery mechanisms. Three concentrations of BaTiO3 nanofluid were prepared, and their effects on pressure and recovery factors were examined. The results demonstrate that BaTiO3 nanofluids increase the reservoir fluid’s ionic conductivity, leading to environmental polarization. Applying BaTiO3 nanofluid on glass bead samples resulted in a significant 42.15% increase in the recovery factor at a 0.3% concentration in various measurements, including interfacial tension, core-flooding, and wettability. The nanofluid caused a reduction in interfacial tension and a shift in wettability from oil-wet to water-wet. The higher adsorption energy of the nanofluid corresponded to more significant oil recovery. The optimal concentration for maximum adsorption energy (−2.566331 × 104) and oil recovery (22.5%) was 0.3wt%. At 0.1% concentration, the IFT value was 0.023 mN/m, at 0.3% concentration the IFT was 0.017 mN/m and at 0.5% concentration IFT value was 0.032 mN/m. The contact angle of the brine with the oil was 89.39% compared to the contact angle of 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% which were 64.25%, 10.57%, and 44.63%, respectively. It was revealed from the result that 0.3% of nanofluid decreased the contact angle from 89.39% to 10.57 at a 0.3% concentration of BaTiO3 nanofluid. This shows that the wettability of the rock surface changed from oil-wet to water-wet with the novel application of BaTiO3 nanoparticles. This improvement in recovery can be attributed to the modification of wettability and reduction of interfacial tension.