ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Full factorial analysis with ANOVA and physiochemical investigation of ZnO/Al₂O₃ with pure bore at low salinity to improve oil recovery

Zeeshan Ali Lashari, Muhammad Furqan Qureshi, Darya Khan Bhutto, Kousar Parveen, Shaine Mohammadali Lalji, Muhammad Arqam Khan, Meichun Li, Lala Gurbanova, and Wedad A. Al-onozi

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

E-mail: zalashari@duet.edu.pk

Received: 22 March 2025  Accepted: 9 June 2025

Abstract:

The nanotechnology possesses vast application for enhanced oil recovery and that has increased significantly on a global scale, and nanofluid has been broadly employed in reservoirs to boost the hydrocarbons recovery. An laboratorial examination was conducted with salinity (NaCl 2.5 wt%) to observe the adding together that zinc oxide (ZnO) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) with nanofluid formed by pure bore may provide to enhance the oil recovery. To fully understand the nanofluid, a laboratory analysis was conducted utilizing FTIR, EDX and XRD of ZnO and Al₂O₃. To gain insight into structure, the nanofluid microstructure was examined. Under laboratory settings, the effects of pure bore concentration (0.30–0.50 wt%) and Al₂O₃ and ZnO concentrations (0.05–0.40 wt%) in brine solution (NaCl 2.5 wt%) were examined. SEM, EDX, FTIR and XRD were used to examine the value addition with Al₂O₃ and ZnO bring to the nanofluid. The analytical inquiry aided in the analysis of the nanofluid’s microstructure. Additionally, the effect of salt on viscosity was explored. The optimum/critical concentrations of pure bore 0.40 wt% and Al₂O₃ 0.30 wt% were reached at salinity conditions (NaCl 2.5 wt%). Statistical analysis with ANOVA analysis and full factorial design were used to validate the results, and it was revealed that the nanofluid prepared employing pure bore (0.40 wt%) and ZnO (0.30 wt%) with salinity NaCl (2.5 wt%) is stable and useful for enhancing oil production as contrast to nanofluid that was prepared with Al₂O₃ (0.30 wt%) under same polymer and saline concentration.

Keywords: Pure bore; Zinc oxide; High salinity; Nanofluid; Enhanced oil recovery

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04190-6

Chemical Papers 79 (9) 6279–6294 (2025)