Abstract: Suspensions comprising amphiphilic nanoparticles and at least one carrier fluid. The amphiphilic nanoparticles may be formed from a carbon-containing material and include at least a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion. The hydrophilic portion comprises at least one hydrophilic functional group and the hydrophobic portion includes at least one hydrophobic functional group. Methods of forming the flooding suspension and methods of removing a hydrocarbon material using the flooding suspensions are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing particles includes disposing reactive nanoparticles in a borehole; contacting the reactive nanoparticles with a resin; introducing a curing agent; and curing the resin and reactive nanoparticles with the curing agent to form a nanocomposite, wherein, during curing, the nanocomposite is bonded to the particles to stabilize the particles. A process for consolidating particles includes coating the particles with a resin; introducing reactive nanoparticles; curing the resin and reactive nanoparticles with a curing agent to form a nanocomposite which is bonded to the particles; and controlling a rate of the curing by an amount of the curing agent which is present with the resin, wherein the nanocomposite bonded to the particles is thermally stable up to at least 600° F. (315° C.). A system comprises a resin; reactive nanoparticles; a curing agent to form a nanocomposite; and particles disposed in a downhole location to which the nanocomposite binds.

Abstract: A process for preparing a nanocomposite includes combining a resin and silsesquioxane; introducing a curing agent to the resin and silsesquioxane to form a composition; and forming a reaction product of the composition to prepare the nanocomposite, wherein a total amount of the silsesquioxane and curing agent in the composition is from 1 wt % to 70 wt %, based on a weight of the composition. Additionally, a process for preparing an article includes combining an epoxy resin and silsesquioxane; introducing a curing agent to the epoxy resin and silsesquioxane to form a composition; and reacting the epoxy resin, silsesquioxane, and curing agent to form the nanocomposite, wherein a molar ratio of a number of moles of an epoxy functional group of the epoxy resin to the sum of the number of moles of the silsesquioxane and curing agent is from 1:1 to 100:1. An article includes the reaction product of the resin, silsesquioxane, and curing agent.

Abstract: A nanocomposite comprises: a polymer; and a nanofiller disposed in the polymer, the nanofiller comprising a first nanoparticle bonded to a second nanoparticle. A process of making a nanocomposite comprises: combining a silsesquioxane and a nanoparticle; bonding the nanoparticle to the silsesquioxane to make a nanofiller; and dispersing the nanofiller in a polymer to make the nanocomposite.