US 12,435,264 B2
Tracer including zinc oxide quantum dots embedded in silica
Zain H. Yamani, Dhahran (SA); Safyan A. Khan, Dhahran (SA); Shahid Ali, Dhahran (SA); and Mohammed Al-Jabari, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/631,221.
Application 18/631,221 is a division of application No. 16/672,478, filed on Nov. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271036 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 47/11 (2012.01); C01G 9/02 (2006.01); C09K 8/60 (2006.01); C09K 11/02 (2006.01); C09K 11/54 (2006.01); B82Y 15/00 (2011.01); B82Y 20/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01)
CPC C09K 11/02 (2013.01) [C01G 9/02 (2013.01); C09K 8/60 (2013.01); C09K 11/54 (2013.01); E21B 47/11 (2020.05); B82Y 15/00 (2013.01); B82Y 20/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); C01P 2004/03 (2013.01); C01P 2004/04 (2013.01); C01P 2004/64 (2013.01); C01P 2006/60 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
obtaining a tracer fluid by:
dispersing a quantum dot comprising zinc oxide in ethanol to form a first colloidal dispersion;
mixing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with water to form a micelle solution;
mixing the first colloidal dispersion with the micelle solution to form a second mixture;
mixing the second mixture with a solution comprising sodium hydroxide to form a third mixture;
mixing the third mixture with ethyl acetate to form a fourth mixture;
mixing the fourth mixture with tetraethylorthosilicate, dimethyldiethoxysilane, or a combination of both to form a fifth mixture; and
stirring the fifth mixture to form a silica nanoparticle having a diameter of less than 100 nanometers;
wherein a plurality of methyl groups are disposed on a surface of the silica nanoparticle; and
wherein the quantum dot comprising zinc oxide is embedded in the silica nanoparticle;
introducing the tracer fluid to a subterranean formation; and
tracking the tracer fluid within the subterranean formation.