Nanotechnology-Driven Enhancements in Oil and Gas Surface Facility Operations: A Case-Focused Evaluation of Separation, Corrosion Mitigation, and Flow Assurance

Surface oil and gas production facilities play a pivotal role in separating and managing multi-phase fluids before transportation to the downstream. As operations become increasingly complex and assets deteriorate, environmental compliance becomes increasingly stringent, revealing the limitations of conventional operational technologies to achieve core sustainability and efficiency expectations. Operational efficiency of surface facilities in oil and gas processing is increasingly challenged by inefficacious separation treatment and assets progressive deterioration due to scaling and corrosion. Recent developments highlight the growing interest in nanotechnology applications to improve surface processing operations as a promising approach. Nanoparticles have demonstrated remarkable effects in reducing corrosion and deposits, improving oil-water phase separation, enhancing thermal conductivity, and maintaining fluid flow by mitigating the deposition of asphaltene, wax, and hydrates. This study delineates the empirical findings of applying nanotechnology in a production surface facility to evaluate its effectiveness by modifying interface behaviors, enhancing system optimization efficiency, and increasing operational reliability by considering relevant field conditions. This research also provides details on the fundamental mechanisms of nanoparticle interaction at the liquid-solid interface, and evaluates their functional performance in light of experimental models and industrial datasets. This review covers the insights for improving production surface facility technologies and inspiring future research paths to support both operational excellence and environmental conscientiousness in upstream development.