An experimental study of the effect of the addition of silicon oxide nanoparticles on the wettability characteristics of rocks with respect to oil

The results of experimental studies of interfacial tension and surface wettability in the nanoscale suspension/oil/rock system were presented. For the first time, the influence of the concentration and size of silicon oxide nanoparticles on the interfacial tension coefficient and the wetting angle was systematically studied. Wide ranges of nanoparticle mass concentrations (from 0 to 1wt.%) and their average sizes(from 5 to 50 nm) were considered. It is established that the use of nanosuspensions allows to radically change the wettability of rock with oil. This effect is significantly dependent on the concentration and size of nanoparticles.