Research on the Application Potential of New Nano-Oil Displacement Agents to Improve Shale Oil Recovery Rates

To meet the demand for enhanced oil recovery in shale reservoirs and to improve the fluidity of shale oil while strengthening its imbibition effect, a multifunctional, thermally stable nanofluid agent, SDP-3, was synthesized using acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonicacid (AMPS) as the primary raw materials. A series of characterizations and tests were conducted to evaluate its interfacial properties, stability, viscosity reduction performance, wettability, and imbibition-driven oil recovery capabilities. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which SDP-3 enhances the recovery of shale oil were analyzed. The results demonstrated that a mass concentration of 2% SDP-3 could reduce the oil–water interfacial tension to 0.071 mN/m. When the concentration increased to 2.0%, the interfacial tension further decreased to 0.071 mN/m, at which point the viscosity reduction rate for shale oil reached 92.02%, and the imbibition recovery rate was 36.57%. Microscopic observations revealed that SDP-3 could disperse shale oil into fibrous and spherical forms, effectively detaching the adhering shale oil from minute pores. This nanofluid agent not only exhibits excellent compatibility and stability but also achieves an ideal oil recovery effect while significantly improving recovery rates, showcasing its immense application potential in oilfield development.