Application of fluids with nanoparticles of magnetite in the porous means' characterization

• Grant number: 18/18575-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal researcher: Liliane Janikian Paes de Almeida
• Grantee: Victor Hugo Sales da Silva
• Home Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present research project proposes the study of a new technique to determine the porosity and anisotropy (heterogeneity) of the interconnected pore distribution in samples of siliciclastic rocks, with the application of a fluid with magnetite nanoparticles. The research will involve the employment of ferrofluid, developed by the researchers of the Institute of Chemistry of USP, in samples of siliciclastic rocks collected in field works carried out by the proponent group. The characterization of the preferential direction of the interconnectivity of the pores present in rock samples will be performed using measures of susceptibility in rocks impregnated by this fluid and its effectiveness will be verified by comparing the results with others to those already obtained by traditional techniques (geological and geophysical). The researches will also involve the employment of petrographic studies and microtomography analyzes in the characterization of the porosity type and the relationship of this woof in samples of several sedimentary facies, seeking to verify a possible interference of the mineralogy and diagenetic features present (as cement and clay) in the generation of porosity and, consequently, percolation of ferrofluid. Preliminary results obtained by the proponent group demonstrated the relationship between the preferential direction of percolation of the fluid (in the interconnected pores of the samples) and the orientation of the primary sedimentary structures, in the case of samples with a predominance of primary porosities. It should be noted that these preliminary results were obtained from only 1 plug direction, collected in several types of sedimentary lithotypes, while traditional methods (such as inert gas injection) are used with 3 plugs with orthogonal directions each other. In this way, stands out the importance of these studies in the great contribution that they can bring to the characterization of the distribution and the preferential direction of interconnected pores, as a complementary technique to the geological (petrographic analysis) and geophysical techniques (porosity analysis by gas injection inert or microtomography) that carry out these studies, is its application of great importance in the characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs.