Rock-fluid and fluid-fluid interaction laboratory
1. Flow assurance, inorganic scaling
Calcium scaling is a serious problem encountered in the oil and gas industry because it is common that brines produced alongside oil and gas exhibit high concentrations of calcium ions, among others, which is expensive to remedy. The precipitation of calcium salts on the internal wall of the pipelines may occur because of the physical and chemical changes as fluids are produced from downhole to surface facilities. We evaluate the corrosion behavior of steel and aluminum alloys under highly scaling environments using supersaturated brines. FUNDING: PAPIIT: TA 100917, 2017 - 2019
2. Flow Assurance, Emulsions
According to their properties, emulsions are classified into; macroemulsions, nanoemulsions, and microemulsions. Moreover, different variables determine the emulsions' formation and behavior; the surfactant type is one of them. The calcium and magnesium ions are considered crucial brine components affecting surfactants' performance. We study the effect of calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) brines on the performance of different surfactants, and the formation, stability, and rheological properties of emulsions. FUNDING: PAPIIT: IA102919, 2019 - 2021
3. Formulation of nanofluids for EOR
Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and the evaluation rock-fluids interaction. Evaluation of the wettability alteration. Experimental tests for oil recovery using nanofluids & Pickering emulsion formation. FUNDING: CONACYT 280816, 2018-2022
4. Geological storage of CO2
Mineralization of carbon dioxide through basalts is a potentially attractive sequestration technology for the stable, permanent, and environmentally harmless confinement of CO2. To ensure this technology's success, it is essential to identify the primary and secondary reactions that take place during the mineralization of CO2 to guarantee the permanent disposal of CO2 and mitigate the risk associated with the geologic sequestration of CO2. The latter requires a deep understanding of the mineral reactivity and transformation processes to select the sequestration sites, operational efficiency, safety conditions, and predict the fate of injected CO2. We evaluate the feasibility of Mexican igneous rocks to mineralize CO2 under different conditions in the lab.
AVAILABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS LAB
| Optical microscope | Capillary pressure equipment (for plugs, under repair) |
| Brookfield Viscometer | Goniometer |
| Resistivimeter | Computer equipment and software available: PHREEQC, OLI Studio, Geochemical Workbench |
| Potentiometer (for pH, SDT, oxygen, conductivity determination) | SITA Tensiometer |
| Potentiometer (for Ca, Mg, F, Cl, I ions detection) | PetroThin for thin sectioning (cutting and grinding) |
| Centrifuge | Heating and stirring grids |
SERVICE CAPABILITIES
- Research and elucidation of the chemical and physical properties of brines, fluid compatibility and flow assurance problems associated with water production (e.g. inorganic scale, emulsions and corrosion)
- Measurement, interpretation and analysis of the rheological behavior of fluids
- Measurement, interpretation and analysis of rock-fluid interactions using infrared techniques, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.