Evaluation of a Novel Functional Graphene Oxide-Based Nanomaterial for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery via Efficient Emulsification, Viscosity Reduction, and Oil Displacement

Graphene oxide-based nanomaterials are widely used in different areas due to their distinguished interfacial activity. Leveraging the interfacial behavior of graphene oxide (GO) at the oil–water interface, this study developed a hybrid heavy oil viscosity reducer (HHOVR) comprising GO nanosheets and a macro-molecular emulsion stabilizer (MES). A key advantage of the HHOVR lies in its effectiveness under mild shear conditions, where it forms stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions due to the complementary effect of GO and the MES. These emulsions resist coalescence, ensuring sustained emulsification capability and viscosity reduction. The HHOVR demonstrated exceptional heavy oil viscosity reduction performance, achieving rates exceeding 85% under multiple test conditions, with some cases surpassing 95%, indicating strong potential for large-scale application. Core flooding experiments and core-scale numerical simulation indicated a significant enhancement in displacement efficiency, with an enhancement of about 25%. The HHOVR’s high viscosity reduction rate, practical applicability, and remarkable emulsion stability highlight its promising prospects for field deployment and provide robust support for advancing chemical-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies.