NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Instructor: Prof. R. Krishnamoorti
Oct 4 2010
Houston, Texas
Much interest has recently focused on the use of nanotechnologies as a materials enabling tool for enhancing oil and gas exploration and production. Initial interest has focused on improving corrosion resistance and drill-bit strength by utilizing nano-enhanced coatings in such applications while also trying to strengthen, self-sense and self-heal elastomers used in blowout protectors. However, the recently discovered surfactancy of nanoparticles and nanoparticle – polymer hybrid materials along with the unique flow (i.e., penetrability through narrow throats and constrictions) and controlled surface affinity properties of nanoparticles and hybrid polymer – nanoparticle systems have opened up their use as vastly improved replacements for polymers, surfactants, dendrimers in mitigation of gas hydrate formation and a paradigm shifting replacements and complements for chemical / tracer technologies for mapping reservoirs in a temporally sensitive manner. Ongoing efforts to improve thermal and environmental stability are critical for the use of such technologies in oil and gas exploration. This course will introduce fundamental methods in nanotechnology and relate the methods and materials to critical issues in oil and gas exploration and production.
The course contents include:
- The issue of size-effects & surface area in nanotechnology
- Top-down Methods; Bottom-up Preparation; Nanoparticles
- Nanosensors & Nanodevices: Relation to Macro-Systems
- Magnetic Properties
- Optical Properties
- Electrical Properties
- Mechanical Properties
- Electro-Mechanical Coupling
- Nanofluids
- Multi-functional Elastomers
- Shape Memory Nanocomposites
- Conductive Fibers
- Magnetic Nanoparticles as Reservoir Probes
About the Instructor:: Dr. Krishnamoorti is Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Houston with expertise in materials and nanotechnology. In the last five years he has developed a strong research program in the area of applying developments in nanotechnology to oil and gas exploration and production. With over 100 technical publications, he is globally renowned for his expertise on nanotechnology and winner of several awards for his outstanding research on the subject. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University.
Registration Fee: $950. Last day to Register Oct 1 2010