Magnetic Nanoparticles and Integration Platform
OwnerBrian Van Herzen, Steven Van Fleet +1inventors
InventorsBrian Van Herzen, Steven Van Fleet, Rushan R. Sakhibgareev
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Abstract
The present application provides magnetic nanoparticles, methods of preparing magnetic nanoparticles, and applications employing magnetic nanoparticles. In embodiments, the magnetic nanoparticles contain one or more conformal coatings, including a coating that contains a fluorescent materials, such as upconverting fluorescent materials. In enhanced oil recovery applications, colloidal solution contain nanoparticles having one or more conformal coatings is prepared for use to monitor the productivity of hydrocarbons and water from the reservoir formation penetrated by a well.
Claims26
A method of preparing a magnetic nanoparticle, comprising:
- providing a nanoparticle core comprising a ferromagnetic material;
- heating the nanoparticle core to a temperature above a Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material;
- maintaining the temperature of the nanoparticle core above the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material;
- and while maintaining the temperature,
- i. depositing a conformal separation layer on the nanoparticle core;
- ii. depositing a conformal intermediate layer on the conformal separation layer;
- and
- iii. depositing a conformal capping layer on the conformal intermediate layer to form the magnetic nanoparticle;
- and
- lowering the temperature of the magnetic nanoparticle below the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material.
A magnetic fluorescent nanoparticle comprising:
- a core comprising a ferromagnetic material;
- a conformal separation layer on the ferromagnetic core;
- a conformal fluorescent layer on the conformal separation layer;
- and a conformal capping layer on the conformal fluorescent layer.
A method of tracing a magnetic fluorescent nanoparticle in a fluid, comprising:
- a. providing the magnetic fluorescent nanoparticle comprising:
- i. a core comprising a ferromagnetic material;
- ii. a conformal separation layer on the ferromagnetic core;
- iii. a conformal fluorescent layer on the conformal separation layer;
- and
- iv. a conformal capping layer on the conformal fluorescent layer;
- b. introducing the magnetic fluorescent nanoparticle into the fluid;
- and
- c. measuring one or more characteristics of the magnetic fluorescent nanoparticle in the fluid.
A method to recover hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation while monitoring productivity of recovery of hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation, the method comprises:
- providing a wellbore penetrating a hydrocarbon producing zone of a subterranean formation;
- providing an injection stream comprising a pre-determined amount of a tracer composition which is any of hydrocarbon soluble, water soluble, and both hydrocarbon soluble and water soluble;
- and
- allowing the tracer composition to be solubilized into fluids produced from the well;
- wherein the tracer composition comprises a plurality of fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles comprising:
- a core comprising a ferromagnetic material;
- a conformal separation layer on the ferromagnetic core;
- a conformal fluorescent layer on the conformal separation layer;
- and a conformal capping layer on the conformal fluorescent layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.