Synthesis of fluorinated nano-silica and its application in wettability alteration near-wellbore region in gas condensate reservoirs

Fluorinated silica nanoparticles were prepared to alter rock wettability near-wellbore region in gas condensate reservoirs. Hence fluorinated silica nanoparticles with average diameter of about 80 nm were prepared and used to alter limestone core wettability from highly liquid-wet to intermediate gas-wet state. Water and n-decane contact angles for rock were measured before and after treatment. The contact angle measured 147 degrees for water and 61 degrees for n-decane on the core surface. The rock surface could not support the formation of any water or n-decane droplets before treatment. The functionalized fluorinated silica nanoparticles have been confirmed by the C-F bond along with Si-O-Si bond as analyzed by FT-IR. The elemental composition of treated limestone core surface was determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. The final evaluation of the fluorinated nanosilica treatment in terms of its effectiveness was measured by core flood experimental tests. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.