Abstract: A pressure cell includes a metal pressure chamber, a heating stage, disposed in the interior of the metal pressure chamber, that heats the liquid sample, a chamber pump, connected to the interior of the metal pressure chamber, that pressurizes the interior of the metal pressure chamber, a salinity control system including a membrane coupled to the sample inlet, where the membrane is configured to reduce a salinity level of the liquid sample, and a controller that controls the chamber pump, the salinity control system, and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber, a salinity level of the liquid sample, and a temperature of the liquid sample, respectively. The metal pressure chamber includes a liquid sample holder, a removable lid, a window in the removable lid, a sample inlet, and a sample outlet.

Abstract: Described is a method for treating hydrocarbons in a reservoir. A foaming surfactant solution and a foaming gas are introduced into the upper portion of a reservoir such that barrier foam bubbles form. Then, super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced such that a CO2 cap forms. The CO2 cap is formed above a foam barrier of aggregated barrier foam bubbles positioned at an interface between hydrocarbons to be treated in the reservoir and the CO2 cap. The super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced into the reservoir at an injection rate that is greater than a pre-treatment critical gas injection rate. Hydrocarbons are recovered from a lower portion of the reservoir.

Abstract: A pressure cell for sum frequency generation spectroscopy includes: a metal pressure chamber; a heating stage that heats the liquid sample; a pump, connected to an interior of the metal pressure chamber, that pressurizes the interior of the metal pressure chamber; and a controller that controls the pump and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber and a temperature of a liquid sample. The metal pressure chamber includes: a base that retains the liquid sample; a removable lid that seals against the base to enclose the liquid sample in the metal pressure chamber; and a window in the removable lid that exposes the liquid sample to an exterior of the metal pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.

Abstract: A method for treating hydrocarbons in a reservoir is provided. The method includes the steps of introducing a foaming surfactant solution and a foaming gas into the upper portion of a reservoir such that barrier foam bubbles form. The method includes introducing super/critical carbon dioxide such that a CO2 cap forms. The CO2 cap forms above a foam barrier positioned at an interface between the hydrocarbons to be treated in the reservoir and the CO2 cap. The foam barrier comprises aggregated barrier foam bubbles. The super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced into the reservoir at an injection rate that is greater than a pre-treatment critical gas injection rate. Hydrocarbons are recovered from a lower portion of the reservoir. The barrier foam bubbles that form are comprised of a foaming gas that has diminished solubility in aqueous solutions as compared with other gases, such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation includes introducing a first solution having a first salt into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. A second solution is also introduced into the hydrocarbon bearing formation, wherein the second solution has a second salt and a foaming agent. The first salt and the second salt produces a nitrogen gas, and the nitrogen gas and the foaming agent produces a foam formed in-situ within the formation. The foam forms a foam barrier, and carbon dioxide is introduced into the formation to form a gas cap, wherein the carbon dioxide gas cap has a gas front that is separated from the hydrocarbons by the foam barrier.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery method using artificial, fresh rain water is described. The method includes generating artificial, fresh rain water. A volume of the generated artificial, fresh rain water is mixed with a volume of brine water obtained from a brine water source to form a mixture having a water salinity that satisfies a threshold water salinity. The mixture is injected into an injection well formed in a subterranean zone. The injection well is fluidically coupled to a producing well formed in the subterranean zone to produce hydrocarbons residing in the subterranean zone. The mixture flows the hydrocarbons in the subterranean zone surrounding the producing well toward the producing well. The hydrocarbons are produced in response to injecting the mixture in the injection well.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a sensor module for detecting carbon dioxide leakage from a subsurface reservoir are disclosed. The methods include attaching anodic aluminum oxide porous membrane onto a first conductive electrode to form an anodic aluminum oxide template; initiating growth of a plurality of TiO2 nanotubes inside the AAO template using an atomic layer deposition process; removing the anodic aluminum oxide template from the first metal electrode leaving the plurality of TiO2 nanotubes on the first conductive electrode; attaching a second conductive electrode to the plurality of TiO2 nanotubes; connecting the first and the second conductive electrodes with an electric line to form a sensor; providing a rollable sheet of non-conductive material; and attaching a plurality of sensors to the rollable sheet of non-conductive material forming the sensor module.

Abstract: Downhole drilling tools and methods for drilling and detecting carbon dioxide leakage in a subsurface reservoir are disclosed. The tools include a cylindrical body; a sensor module including a plurality of sensors including a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and a plurality of TiO2 nanotubes, and an electric line located between and connecting the first and the second conductive electrodes; and a communication device communicatively connected to the sensor module; wherein the sensor module and the communication device are attached to an outer surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A pressure cell for sum frequency generation spectroscopy includes: a metal pressure chamber; a heating stage that heats a liquid sample; an ultrasonic stage that emulsifies the liquid sample; a chamber pump that pressurizes an interior of the metal pressure chamber; and a controller that controls the chamber pump, the ultrasonic stage, and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber, an emulsification of the liquid sample, and a temperature of the liquid sample, respectively. The metal pressure chamber includes: a liquid sample holder that retains the liquid sample; a removable lid that seals against a base; a window in the removable lid; a sample inlet that flows the liquid sample from an exterior of the metal pressure chamber to the liquid sample holder at a predetermined flow rate; and a sample outlet.

Abstract: A system to measure a streaming potential of a core plug includes a measurement cell having a chamber to hold the core plug and an inlet fluid line connected to an inlet port of the measurement cell. A filtration device is arranged to control a salinity and ionic strength of a liquid medium received in the chamber through the inlet fluid line. The filtration device has membrane filters with different ion rejection rates and is controllable to selectively dispose each of the membrane filters in the inlet fluid line.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery method using artificial, fresh rain water is described. The method includes generating artificial, fresh rain water. A volume of the generated artificial, fresh rain water is mixed with a volume of brine water obtained from a brine water source to form a mixture having a water salinity that satisfies a threshold water salinity. The mixture is injected into an injection well formed in a subterranean zone. The injection well is fluidically coupled to a producing well formed in the subterranean zone to produce hydrocarbons residing in the subterranean zone. The mixture flows the hydrocarbons in the subterranean zone surrounding the producing well toward the producing well. The hydrocarbons are produced in response to injecting the mixture in the injection well.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A photoresist layer is coated onto a top surface of a silicon nitride (SiN) substrate. After coating the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer is scanned with an electron beam in a predefined pattern. The scanned photoresist is developed to expose portions of the top surface of the SiN substrate in the predefined pattern. Calcite is deposited in the predefined pattern using atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a calcite precursor gas. Using a solvent, a remaining portion of the photoresist layer is removed to expose the deposited calcite in the predefined pattern and on the top surface of the SiN substrate, where a width of the deposited calcite is in range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm).

Abstract: A pressure cell for sum frequency generation spectroscopy includes: a metal pressure chamber; a heating stage that heats a liquid sample; an ultrasonic stage that emulsifies the liquid sample; a chamber pump that pressurizes an interior of the metal pressure chamber; and a controller that controls the chamber pump, the ultrasonic stage, and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber, an emulsification of the liquid sample, and a temperature of the liquid sample, respectively. The metal pressure chamber includes: a liquid sample holder that retains the liquid sample; a removable lid that seals against a base; a window in the removable lid; a sample inlet that flows the liquid sample from an exterior of the metal pressure chamber to the liquid sample holder at a predetermined flow rate; and a sample outlet.

Abstract: A method of making a portion of a microfluidic channel includes lithographically patterning a first pattern into a first layer of photoresist disposed on a substrate, the first pattern representative of morphology of a reservoir rock; etching the first pattern into the substrate to form a patterned substrate; disposing a second layer of photoresist onto the patterned substrate; lithographically patterning a second pattern into the second layer of photoresist to reveal portions of the patterned substrate; and depositing calcite onto the exposed portions of the patterned substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a portion of a microfluidic channel includes lithographically patterning a first pattern into a first layer of photoresist disposed on a substrate, the first pattern representative of morphology of a reservoir rock; etching the first pattern into the substrate to form a patterned substrate; disposing a second layer of photoresist onto the patterned substrate; lithographically patterning a second pattern into the second layer of photoresist to reveal portions of the patterned substrate; and depositing calcite onto the exposed portions of the patterned substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying water to a hydrocarbon-containing formation may include generating artificial rain in the proximity of the formation and collecting the artificial rain in one or more collectors. Following collection, the artificial rain may be transferred from the one or more collectors to an underground water reservoir. The artificial rain may then be combined with an aqueous fluid to give a wellbore fluid, which may then be transferred or injected into the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying water to a hydrocarbon-containing formation may include generating artificial rain in the proximity of the formation and collecting the artificial rain in one or more collectors. Following collection, the artificial rain may be transferred from the one or more collectors to an underground water reservoir. The artificial rain may then be combined with an aqueous fluid to give a wellbore fluid, which may then be transferred or injected into the wellbore.

Abstract: A method includes flowing an inlet solution having an inlet salinity and an inlet ion concentration from an inlet to a membrane filtration system, dynamically adjusting the salinity or ion concentration of the inlet solution in situ as the inlet solution flows to an inlet of a microfluidic cell, and determining a wettability alteration in situ while dynamically adjusting the salinity or ion concentration of the inlet solution. A system includes a fluid inlet, a microfluidic cell fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, the microfluidic cell having a surface representative of a reservoir rock, and a membrane filtration system coupled between the microfluidic cell and the fluid inlet.

Abstract: A composition for increased hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. The composition includes a saltwater solution suitable for injection into the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir for water flooding, the saltwater solution having a salinity; and a plurality of nanocapsules, where the nanocapsules are operable to be suspended amongst the saltwater solution, where the nanocapsules have an overall positively charged outer surface at respective outer shells of the nanocapsules, where the nanocapsules encapsulate water molecules within the nanocapsules, and where the nanocapsules are operable to release the water molecules in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir proximate overall negatively charged zones.