Novel Sensor Platform for Detection of Nanoparticle

Concentration in Production Oil and Gas Stream

MAST Core Competency: Innovation through Unobvious Connections

Nanotechnology: New model for very small sensors

Swallow a pill that transmits picture in body

Car communicates oil chemistry wirelessly to

I=Phone

Nanoparticles in oil wells capture process conditions

MEMS devices that float inside transformer and report on partial

discharges

Goals of this Product Development ü Detect and measure

accurately and repeatedly the concentration of 20 nm magnetic nanoparticles in a flowing well process stream

ü  Ability to measure nanoparticle concentration to 1 ppb in oil and brine

Hope and Faith in Tomorrow

Challenges facing a Survivable Nanoparticle

u  Obstacles u  Hot Water (100oC+)

u  Hydrolytic degradation of coating u  Core dissolution u  Accelerated phase changes in the core u  Enhanced agglomeration due to fast Brownian motion

u  High Concentration of Electrolytes u  Double layer compression u  Particle bridging due to cation chelation (Ca2+, Mg2+ etc.) u  Seeding of mineral precipitation

u  Active small molecules u  Chemical degradation of coating and core

u  Large, chemically heterogeneous rock surface u  Adhesion of particles

u  Tortuous pores with narrow throats u  Nanoparticle screening

Build your own Particles Cobalt

Silica Insulator

Phosphor

30 nm

75-90 nm

50-60 nm

Particle Chemistry

●  Upconverting nanoparticles (UCP) o  1 excitation photon -> multiple emission photons o  Infrared excitation laser 980nm o  Strong emission at 800nm o  Disperse in solution when sonicated

Flow Cell

Magnet

Magnetic particles accumulate along the vertical edge of the magnet

Flow Direction

x

y

z

3 dimensional computer controlled translation of Flow Cell & Magnet in relation to laser

Laser

Concept of a Nano Seive

Increasing Magnetic Field

Magnet

Flow Cell – top view

x

y

z Laser focal point adjustment by moving the Flow Cell and Magnet in relation to laser

Laser

Spectrometer Dichroic Mirror

Lens

Programmatically Scanning of Target Site

30nm resolution

Magnet edge Flow Cell

Resolution of Laser Movement on np Target Area

Leveraging Fluorescent Emissions in Opaque Liquids

Device Schematic

Combination uniform and gradient magnetic field

Two Modes of Operation

u Cuvette and Flow through

Platform Evaluation Conditions u Particle performance baseline measured in DI u Brine conditions 120,000 ppm to 500,000 ppm u Oil emulsion 1%-10%-50%-75% u Dodecane initially used as a precursor u Final evaluation on actual production crude

Performance not impacted by Brine and Oil

Results flow test

Ongoing Development

u Continuous Improvement client feedback u Support wider range of nanoparticles u Ruggedized field design for at well head

installation

Hope and Faith in Tomorrow