Multifunctional Green Synthesized Hybrid Nanofluid System for Asphaltene Control and Crude Oil Conditioning: An Integrated Flow Assurance Solution

Asphaltene deposition, especially near the wellbore, where pressure declines below the bubble point, remains a critical threat to flow assurance in oilfield operations. This study hypothesizes that a multifunctional, sustainable, and eco‐friendly hybrid nanofluid based on ZnO and biodegradable surfactant can overcome these asphaltene‐related issues while simultaneously improving crude oil characteristics. A modified asphaltene dispersion test, designed without toluene addition to prevent overestimation of inhibitor performance, was conducted on different crude oil systems to evaluate inhibitor efficacy under realistic conditions. The nanofluid with a concentration of 900 ppm has achieved 99.6% asphaltene dispersion stability over 1 week, taking advantage of various asphaltene–nanoparticle mechanisms such as adsorption, steric hindrance, and electrostatic repulsion. In the most problematic crude oil system, marked by high salt and water content, inhibition surpassed 70%. Fluorescence microscopy further validated these findings by demonstrating the disaggregation of asphaltene clusters. Additionally, the nanofluid demonstrated corrosion inhibition by 100% hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) scavenging, 55% sulfur reduction, and crude oil viscosity reduction ranging between 10% and 48%, depending on the crude oil system. This research presents an innovative multifunctional solution to flow assurance issues in a single low‐cost formulation, eliminating the need for multiple chemical treatments, which aligns with the industry's shift toward sustainable and integrated oilfield management strategies. The results provide a base for future field‐scale validation and long‐term stability assessment of nanofluids under reservoir conditions.