Carbon-Based Fluorescent Tracers as Oil Reservoir Nano-Agents

摘要

The present invention relates to carbon-based fluorescent nano-agent tracers for analysis of oil reservoirs. The carbon-based fluorescent nano-agents may be used in the analysis of the porosity of a formation. The nanoagents are suitable for injection into a petroleum reservoir and may be recovered from the reservoir for the determination of hydrocarbon flow rates and retention times.

主权项

1. A method for the preparation of a fluorescent nanoagent for use in a subsurface petroleum reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
heating an aqueous solution comprising sugar under high pressure at a temperature of at least 150° C. for at least 4 hours; adding an amino alcohol to the solution and refluxing the resulting mixture for a period of at least 10 hours, collecting a solid product comprising carbon-based nanoparticles having fluorescent functional groups attached to the surface thereof.