One of the challenges in directing flow in subsurface environments characterized by significant nano-scale porosity is low permeability and disordered and disconnected porosity. Scientific efforts to enhance permeability in the subsurface environments has motivated the exploration of fluids for enhancing fracture formation to aid permeability. In this study, we propose a new class of novel nanofluids constructed from silica nanoparticles and CO2-responsive swellable polymers (e.g., poly(allylamine) (PAA)) as the building blocks for CO2-induced hydrogel formation. These novel nanofluids have higher CO2 uptake compared to pure polymer, PAA. CO2 capture proceeded via the formation of carbamate, protonated primary and secondary, and bicarbonate ions in PAA and SiO2-PAA nanofluids. Further, time-resolved Ultra Small and Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (USAXS/SAXS) measurements showed the enhanced formation of coiled networks during CO2 induced hydrogel formation. These studies show linkages between CO2 induced changes in the chemical and morphological characteristics of these novel nanofluids.

Chemo-morphological coupling in CO2-responsive tunable nano-scale fluids for subsurface energy recovery

2019 Fall National Meeting

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