Nanotechnology Applied to Oil Industry
Hyperthermia
Magnetic hyperthermia is the phenomenon of increasing the temperature of a system with magnetic nanoparticles subjected to an alternate magnetic field (AMF). This phenomenon occurs as the energy from the magnetic field is transformed into heat by mechanical (Brownian relaxation) and/or magnetic (Néel relaxation) magnetization reversal.
High viscosity fluids tend to reduce their viscosity when the temperature increases, thus accelerating their flow. Such fluids are present in several industries (e.g. O&G, pharmaceutical, or chemical) and this viscosity reduction translates into lower costs and greater profitability in the sector.
For the last couple of years, we have been researching and building a system to scale up and apply this phenomenon to the petroleum industry; the pilot test has been executed with success and more research is being developed.