Using brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersions to improve oil recovery

A method of increasing initial production rates of an oil well

• a). selecting a brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion that is characterized by having a change in turbidity of less than about 100 NTU after API brine exposure according to an API brine resistance test by use of a turbidimeter;
• and
• b). adding the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion into the oil well as a pre-pad pill;
• wherein the added brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion enhances flow of oil and gas through the oil well beyond induced fracture network, thereby increasing the initial production rates of the oil well by over 20.0% as compared to wells either not treated with a silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion technology or treated by nano-emulsion surfactants;
• and
• wherein the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion comprises surface modified, neutral wet colloidal silica nanoparticles, which penetrate via accelerated diffusion into the reservoir beyond the induced fracture network,
• wherein the silica nanoparticles are surface modified with trimethoxy[3-(oxiranylmethoxy)propyl] silane, which is in an amount of 2.5% to 5% by weight of the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion.

A method of extending an oil and gas system effective stimulated reservoir volume, the method comprising the steps of adding oil well treatment fluids to the well in the order given to the well:

• a) adding an acid;
• b) adding a fresh water spacer;
• c) adding a brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion pre-pad pill;
• d) adding a fresh water spacer;
• and
• e) inserting a pad of a frac treatment,
• wherein the added brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion enhances flow of oil and gas through the oil and gas system beyond induced fracture network, thereby extending the oil and gas system effective stimulated reservoir volume;
• and
• wherein the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion comprises surface modified, neutral wet colloidal silica nanoparticles, which penetrate via accelerated diffusion into the reservoir beyond the induced fracture network,
• wherein the silica nanoparticles are surface modified with trimethoxy[3-(oxiranylmethoxy)propyl] silane, which is in an amount of 2.5% to 5% by weight of the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion;
• and
• wherein the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion is selected such that it has a change in turbidity of less than about 100 NTU after API brine exposure according to an API brine resistance test by use of a turbidimeter.

A method of increasing initial production rates of an oil well, comprising the steps of adding oil well treatment fluids to the well in the order given to the well:

• a) adding an acid;
• b) adding a fresh water spacer;
• c) adding a brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion pre-pad pill;
• d) adding a fresh water spacer;
• and
• e) inserting a pad of a frac treatment,
• wherein the added brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion enhances flow of oil and gas through the oil well beyond induced fracture network, thereby increasing the initial production rates of the oil well by over 20.0% as compared to wells either not treated with a silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion technology or treated by nano-emulsion surfactants;
• and
• wherein the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion comprises surface modified, neutral wet colloidal silica nanoparticles, which penetrate via accelerated diffusion into the reservoir beyond the induced fracture network,
• wherein the silica nanoparticles are surface modified with trimethoxy[3-(oxiranylmethoxy)propyl] silane, which is in an amount of 2.5% to 5% by weight of the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion;
• and
• wherein the brine resistant silicon dioxide nanoparticle dispersion is selected such that it has a change in turbidity of less than about 100 NTU after API brine exposure according to an API brine resistance test by use of a turbidimeter.