Experimental research of stability of emulsion systems with SiO2 nanoparticles

Since the beginning of the 21st century scientific research devoted to properties of nanosized particles and their industrial application in the industry of oil and gas fields development has been rapidly evolving. The use of nanosized particles can significantly rise efficiency of technological solutions, and that fact determines this research area as the most promising today. in the area of oil and gas fields development one of the general application for nanoparticles is the development of high-performance technological fluids with new or improved physico-chemical properties. The ability of nanoparticles to modify wettability of the rock surface and to be fixed on the adsorption-solva-tion stratums of globules makes them a unique tool to regulate physicochemical properties of technological fluids and physical properties of rocks. The article reveals the results of a new stage in the research of physical properties of emulsion systems with silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2). The research carried out within the framework of international project «Development and implementation of water-blocking agents based on the SiO2 nanoparticles application». The results of comparative tests of stability of classical emulsions (o/W and W/o types) and emulsion systems modified with SiO2 nanoparticles with different wettability characteristics (hydrophilic or hydrophobic) are presented. According to the results of comparative tests, it has been determined that the stability of most samples of modified emulsion systems containing hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica nanoparticles exceeds the stability of classical emulsions by more than 100%. In the course of comparative studies, the following types of experiments were performed: measurement of aggregate stability, electrostability and thermal stability of samples. The paper is a continuation of the complex research which has been published in [1].