SusChemE 2015
International Conference on Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
October 8-9, 2015, Hotel Lalit, Mumbai
Application of Nanotechnology to Upstream Oil and Gas Industry in India: A
Big Game Changer
Bhupinder Singh Sawhney1, Schlumberger, Samarth D. Patwardhan2, MIT, Pune
Schlumberger, D-105, TTC Indl. Area, MIDC Nerul, Opp.D.Y.Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai – 400706.
2
MIT, Pune, S. No 124, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune – 411038.
1
1. Introduction
Nanotechnology as a science has been making revolutionary waves in many industries since the
1980’s and has been at the forefront of technological advancements. To provide a brief picture
about the immense potential of this technology being realized and implemented in real life and
consequently leading to big changes, we can look at the example of the extraordinary material
strength, elasticity and thermal conductivity of Nano-based metal and polymer composites;
targeted and programmed delivery of drugs and enhanced imaging of human organs in medicine;
and chemical / physical properties of Nano sensors.
2. Nanotechnology in Upstream Oil and Gas Industry
The usage of this field of science for the Oil and Gas industry has been relatively constrained till
date, but as evident by the sheer magnitude of available literature, the fact that this technology
has tremendous potential to change the face of both upstream and downstream hydrocarbon
based industries, has been well established amongst the leading experts of both Oil and Gas and
the Nanotechnology world. Although Nanotechnology has the potential to alter the scenario for
mostly all aspects of the upstream and downstream Oil and Gas industry, the following are the
major areas where the solutions provided by the onset of this technology can make a significant
impact: exploration, drilling, production, enhanced oil recovery as well as in refining and
processing. And if a microscopic view is taken towards a country like India, then the potential of
creating improvements in the industry with the help of this technology increase even further.
India can be categorized as a country that is yet to reach its full potential in terms of the
development of the oil and gas industry. Even though the process of exploration and production
of hydrocarbons in India has been going on since the past 80 odd years, there is still a huge part
of the country that still remains unexplored. Further, India is at the onset of exploring
unconventional resources like shale gas, which could assist India in significantly reducing the
energy import.
3. Hydraulic Fracturing of Shale Gas Reservoirs
This paper details on the possible applications of nanotechnology which can assist Indian
upstream oil and gas industry in exploring inaccessible areas, or optimally producing from
depleting fields. Solutions specific to each of the above mentioned activity have been proposed
in this paper, especially for hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is a common completion
practice, for production from shale reservoirs to be economical, and it requires large amounts of
water. In a country like India, where potable water is difficult to find, pumping millions of
gallons of water for placing such a treatment is not possible. This paper provides solutions for
making the fracturing operations “greener and cleaner” by using nano fluids and nano particles,
to assist in re-using the produced water, leading to a lesser consumption pattern for shale
development.