Impact of nanoparticles with different chemical-physical properties on the rheology and thermal stability of thermoreversible hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogels

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in heavy and extra-heavy oil reservoirs primarily relies on thermal methods like cyclic steam stimulation and steam flooding. However, reservoir heterogeneities often lead to poor sweep efficiency, unswept oil pockets, and early water breakthrough. To mitigate these issues, a thermoreversible hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrogel was evaluated for channeling control. This study investigates the effects of carbon nanospheres, aluminum (Al2O3), silicon (SiO2), magnesium (MgO), and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles on the viscoelastic and thermal properties of a low-concentration HPMC hydrogel. Nanoparticles improved gel performance, with MgO and Al2O3 increasing the resistance to flow of the hydrogel under high-pressure conditions, lowering gelation temperature by up to 10 degrees C, and reducing syneresis up to 13%. These results highlight the potential of nanoparticle-reinforced HPMC gels to enhance EOR efficiency in heterogeneous reservoirs.