Prospecção tecnológica sobre o uso de microemulsões estabilizadas por nanopartículas como fluido para recuperação avançada de petróleo.

Abstract

The oil industry faces significant challenges due to declining production in many wells, resulting from the natural depletion of reserves or the inefficiency of conventional recovery methods. In this context, there is a pressing need to develop innovative technologies for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Among these technologies, the use of nanoparticle-stabilized microemulsion systems stands out as a promising solution to improve the efficiency of oil recovery from mature or hard-to-access reservoirs. This approach is particularly relevant due to the ability of these systems to reduce interfacial tension between oil and water, increase oil mobility and sweep efficiency, thereby facilitating more effective recovery of residual oil. This study examines technological advancements in the use of nanoparticle-stabilized microemulsion systems for EOR through patent prospecting. The research methodology employed International Patent Classification (IPC) codes and keywords to identify representative documents related to the use of nanoparticle-stabilized microemulsions in EOR. The searches were conducted using the FAMPAT database via the Questel Orbit Intelligence® software, which was also used for statistical analysis. Data collection took place in May 2024, without restrictions on time period or region. Duplicate and irrelevant patents were excluded. Through this methodology, 729 patent families related to the use of microemulsions were identified, of which 39 specifically incorporate nanoparticles in their composition. The data analysis reveals that this technology is relatively recent, with the first patent filed in 2010. However, it has shown rapid growth and significant export potential, as evidenced by the average patent family size (3.9). China and the United States lead in technological development, accounting for 84.61% of the filed patents. Brazil holds only one patent, submitted by PETROBRAS, which describes a method for cleaning rock samples from petroleum systems using a low-toxicity nanofluid that accelerates the process without altering the rock’s properties. Furthermore, the technology demonstrates potential application in low-permeability and high-temperature reservoirs and is frequently associated with hydraulic fracturing technology. This study successfully maps the technological development of nanoparticle-stabilized microemulsion systems in EOR, providing a pathway for the application of these nanofluids and supporting future research in the field.