An Experimental Investigation on the Amphiphilic Modified α-ZrP Nanomaterials for Enhanced Tight Oil Recovery

Amphiphilic α-Zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanosheets were synthesized through a simple method. Highly crystalline α-ZrP was firstly synthesized by reflux method and then exfoliated into nanosheets. The nanosheets were modified into Janus amphiphilic ZrP nanosheets by partially hydrophobic modification with OTS. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to confirm the morphology and chemical structure of the amphiphilic nanosheets. The amphiphilic Janus α-ZrP nanosheets were applied in low-permeability sandstone cores and 4 kinds of concentrations were tested. The mechanisms for enhancing tight oil recovery by utilizing hydrophobic α-ZrP nanosheets were analyzed: forming Pickering emulsions and increasing the viscosity of the displacing phase. The results indicated the possibility of using amphiphilic modified α-ZrP nanosheets for enhanced tight oil recovery in a low-permeability reservoir.