Nanotechnology and global energy demand: challenges and prospects for a paradigm shift in the oil and gas industry.

The exploitation of new hydrocarbon discoveries in meeting the present global energy demand is a function of the availability and application of new technologies. The relevance of new technologies is borne out of the complex subsurface architecture and conditions of offshore petroleum plays. Conventional techniques, from drilling to production, for exploiting these discoveries may require adaption for such subsurface conditions as they fail under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. The oil and gas industry over the past decades has witnessed increased research into the use of nanotechnology with great promise for drilling operations, enhanced oil recovery, reservoir characterization, production, etc. The prospect for a paradigm shift towards the application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry is constrained by evolving challenges with its progression. This paper gave a review of developments from nano-research in the oil and gas industry, challenges and recommendations

Pesticide soil microbial toxicity: Setting the scene for a new pesticide risk assessment for soil microorganisms (IUPAC Technical Report)

Pesticides constitute an integral part of modern agriculture. However, there are still concerns about their effects on non-target organisms. To address this the European Commission has imposed a stringent regulatory scheme for new pesticide compounds. Assessment of the aquatic toxicity of pesticides is based on a range of advanced tests. This does not apply to terrestrial ecosystems, where the toxicity of pesticides on soil microorganisms, is based on an outdated and crude test (N mineralization). This regulatory gap is reinforced by the recent methodological and standardization advances in soil microbial ecology. The inclusion of such standardized tools in a revised risk assessment scheme will enable the accurate estimation of the toxicity of pesticides on soil microorganisms and on associated ecosystem services. In this review we (i) summarize recent work in the assessment of the soil microbial toxicity of pesticides and point to ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as most relevant bioindicator groups (ii) identify limitations in the experimental approaches used and propose mitigation solutions, (iii) identify scientific gaps and (iv) propose a new risk assessment procedure to assess the effects of pesticides on soil microorganisms © 2022 IUPAC & De Gruyter. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. For more information, please visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ 2022

Utilization of iron oxide nanoparticles in drilling fluids improves fluid loss and formation damage characteristics

Summarization: well integrity. Rheological and fluid loss characteristics are key fluid properties that need to be optimized for the development of stable and “smart” water-based fluids. The objective of this research is to develop appropriate additives in order to reduce formation damage in drilling operations. We do this by examining the fluid loss characteristics for water-based muds, utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles as fluid loss additives. The nanoparticles benefit from their small size and it is anticipated to seal porous and/or fractured formations and thus are expected to provide a great potential for reduction of formation damage. We present API filtrate loss and filter cake characterization along with the changes in the rheological properties of drilling fluids containing various concentrations of nanoparticles. We have measured rheological properties with Couette type viscometer both at low and high temperatures. LPLT and HPHT API filter presses have been used for fluid loss measurements. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) pictures were used to analyze the nanoparticle size range and to reveal secrets of their good performance by providing deep insights for their microstructure, the interfacial phenomena and the interaction between bentonite particles and the nanoparticles. The examined nanoparticles have the potential not only to significantly reduce the fluid loss and develop a thin mudcake, but also to maintain optimal rheological properties thus providing effective pressure control. The required relatively low concentration in the drilling fluid provides a base for more efficient, environmental friendly and safer drilling practices.Παρουσιάστηκε στο: First EAGE Workshop on Well Injectivity and Productivity in Carbonate