Biography
Prof. Jiang Yang
Prof. Jiang Yang
Xi'an Petroleum University, China
Title: Self-assembly of Complex Fluid and Nanoparticles as Fracturing Fluid for Enhancing Oil and Gas Production
Abstract: 
The self-assembly of viscoelastic surfactant (VES) formed entangled wormlike micelle. VES has been used as fracturing fluids with low formation damage to enhance oil and gas production. However, VES fracturing fluids are used at much higher concentration than that of traditional polymer based fracturing fluids. The application of VES fluid is also limited below 130 °C. We have developed a series of fracturing fluid based on self-assembly of VES, associated polymer and nanoparticles, which reduced VES concentration and improved performance at higher temperature. Supramolecular complex between associative polymer and wormlike micelle was formed by weak physical attractive forces. The viscosity increased over ten times by such mixed complex fluids. Addition of organic nanoparticles can also increase viscosity of complex fluid. The nanoparticles are carbon nanotubes and environmental-friendly cellulose nanofibers with 4-10 nm in diameter. For example, addition of 0.2% cellulose nanofibers to 1.4% VES fluid increases the upper temperature limit from 130 to 150 °C. Similar effect was seen with hydroxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The increased viscosity and higher temperature limit for the complex fluid of nanoparticle and wormlike micelle is due to their cooperative force among hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. The rheological property gives good proppant suspension at low flow rate in the fracture and low friction during high shear pumping for fracturing applications.
Biography: 
Dr. Jiang Yang is a distinguished professor at Xi'an Petroleum University, China. Previously, he has worked as a research scientist in Unilever, Baker Hughes and Dow Co. for over 15 years. His research interests include applied research of colloid and surface chemistry for oilfield chemicals such as corrosion inhibitors, fracturing fluid, foam, emulsion, enhanced oil recovery etc. Yang holds a Ph.D degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri-Rolla, USA. He did Postdoctoral research at Clarkson University, USA. Yang has authored and coauthored more than 100 technical papers and holds 50 patents.