Optimizing nanoemulsions as fluid flowback additives in enhancing tight gas production

• Nanoemulsion was prepared from bicontinuous structure by phase diagram studies.
• Nanoemulsion has higher contact angle on surface than that of surfactant alone.
• Nanoemulsion gives higher fluid recovery than that of surfactant alone.
• Nanoemulsion with higher oil/surfactant ratio gives higher fluid recovery.

Nanoemulsions with d-limonene as oil have been studied as flowback additives in enhancing tight gas production. Nanoemulsions have been prepared by the low energy emulsification process. The surface tension and contact angle of fluid have been studied and correlated to the capillary pressure in the reservoir. The surfactants and oil adsorbed on the surface as monolayer gives high contact angle at low surfactant concentration. A modified column test was used to evaluate fluid recovery. The results show that fluid recovery of nanoemulsion is higher than that of surfactants alone. The fluid recovery is higher with higher oil/surfactant ratio in nanoemulsions.