M. Tajmiri - Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology , Isfahan, Iran
M. R. Ehsani - Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology , Isfahan, Iran

Heavy oil account for more than double the resources of conventional oil in the world. Recovery of heavy oil is a complex process because these fluids are extremely viscous at reservoir conditions. The content of this study focused on CuO nanoparticles effect on Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process for extracting heavy oil through the designed and made dimensional scaled SAGD cell with porous packing materials for the first time in Iranian heavy oil reservoir. Thefirst goal was to show the ability of CuO nanoparticles concentration to reduce viscosity. The mainobjective was to clarify the effect of CuO nanoparticles on heavy oil recovery. Laboratory tests were conducted in two experiments. In the first experiment, the SAGD cell saturated with heavy oil and inthe second one, CuO nanoparticles flooded into cell then saturated with crude oil and the amount ofrecovery was monitored during hours for all tests. Final oil recovery was . % and . % in without nanoparticles and with nanoparticles conditions respectively. It was found CuO nanoparticles has major influence on viscosity reduction and heavy oil recovery.

SAGD, CuO nanoparticles, Heavy oil, Viscosity reduction, EOR