Nanoparticle modified fluids and methods of manufacture thereof

A method of using a nanoparticle modified fluid comprising:

• injecting into a subterranean hydrocarbon formation the nanoparticle modified fluid
• comprising first nanoparticles that are surface modified to increase a viscosity of the nanoparticle modified fluid and that have at least one dimension that is less than 100 nanometers and second nanoparticles that are surface modified to increase a viscosity of the nanoparticle modified fluid and that have at least one dimension that is less than 100 nanometers;
• the first nanoparticles being different from the second nanoparticles;
• the sum of the weight of the first and second nanoparticles being about 0.1 to about 2 wt. %, based on the total weight of the nanoparticle modified fluid, and the nanoparticle modified fluid displaying a viscosity increase of about 2 to about 6 orders of magnitude when the shear rate is decreased from 1,000 seconds−1 to 0.1 second−1;
• contacting the subterranean hydrocarbon formation with the nanoparticle modified fluid;
• plugging a first zone of the formation by reducing flow rate of the nanoparticle modified fluid and increasing the viscosity of the nanoparticle modified fluid to a point of gelation;
• channeling the nanoparticle modified fluid into a second zone of the formation;
• the second zone of the formation having a lower permeability than the first zone of the formation;
• and
• injecting additional nanoparticle modified fluid into channels formed in the gelled nanoparticle modified fluid in the subterranean hydrocarbon formation,
• wherein the first nanoparticles comprise carbonaceous nanoparticles, and the second nanoparticles comprise metal oxide nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles, clay nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, boron nitride nanoparticles, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing nanoparticles.