Performance Evaluation and Formation Mechanism of Low-Concentration Silicon Quantum Dot-Enhanced Viscoelastic Surfactant Fracturing Fluids

作者：Han Jia, Ziwei Wei, Qiuxia Wang, Zhe Wang, Xuehao Zhang, Xiaolong Wen, Songling Yuan, Xu Li, Bowen Wang, Pan Huang · 发表于：Energy & Fuels · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5c02923 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques、Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis、Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena

Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluids gain significant attention in the hydraulic fracturing field with low reservoir damage. However, the harsh reservoir conditions seriously cause the structural instability and viscoelastic degradation of VES fracturing fluids. In this study, the silicon quantum dot (SiQD)-enhanced stearyl trimethylammonium bromide (STAB)/sodium salicylate VES fracturing fluids were constructed and evaluated. Then, the properties (proppant transport, gel-breaking, and permeability damage) of VES fracturing fluids containing different nanoparticles were systematically investigated. SiQDs were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption experiments. Then, the rheological test and Cryo-TEM were employed to study the influences of various nanoparticles on the viscoelasticity of VES fracturing fluids. Compared to VES fracturing fluids enhanced by hydrophilic SiO 2 nanoparticles (SiNPs, 0.1 wt %), the relatively low-concentration SiQD (0.025 wt %)-reinforced VES fracturing fluids exhibited superior tolerance properties and application performance in harsh reservoir environments. The very intensive electrostatic interactions between STAB and SiQDs promoted the formation of more connection points, effectively extending contour length and improving viscoelasticity of VES fracturing fluids. In addition, the controlled experiments about SiQD...