In many of the world’s reservoirs approximately two thirds of the oil in place cannot be

recovered by conventional production methods (Enhanced heavy oil recovery in sandstone

cores using TiO2 nanofluids), (The application of nanofluids for enhanced oil recovery:
Effects on interfacial tension and coreflooding process), (Silica Nanofluids in an Oilfield
Polymer Polyacrylamide: Interfacial Properties, Wettability Alteration, and Applications
for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery), (Applications of micro and nano technologies in
the oil and gas industry-an overview of the recent progress)

The production history of a petroleum reservoir goes through several production stages. The first
stage is primary recovery process, in which the reservoir pressure causes the fluid to flow into
production wells and then to the surface. The average primary recovery rate is around 10–15% of
the original oil in place. (Experimental application of ultrasound waves to improved oil
recovery during waterflooding)

The second production stage known as secondary recovery methods includes gas and brine
reinjection or water flooding. The ultimate recovery factor can be increased to about 40% by
employing the secondary recovery method. (Experimental application of ultrasound waves to
improved oil recovery during waterflooding).

(Applications of micro and nano technologies in the oil and gas industry-an overview of the
recent progress)

and most of the producing oilfields are in the late stages of production.

Wettability alteration of sandstones by silica nanoparticle dispersions in light and heavy

crude oil

In the prima- ry phase, the natural pressure ofthe reservoir along with pumps or other methods of
artificial lift is used to capture oil

The secondary phase then utilizes water flooding or gas injection for further extraction.

Polymer-coated nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery

Primary and secondary oil recovery methods typically produce only 15–30% of the original oil in
place, depending on the compressibility of fluids and initial pressure of the reser- voir

Application of a Novel Ultrasonic Technology to Improve Oil Recovery with an

Environmental Viewpoint

There is a variety of factors that negatively affect the oil extraction process in the primary and
secondary recovery. These factors include capillary forces, high mobility ration, and finally
heterogeneity of reservoir rocks