Inventors:
Edward J. O'Malley - Houston TX, US
Bennett M. Richard - Kingwood TX, US
Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
Min Huang - Houston TX, US
Assignee:
Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX
International Classification:
E21B 43/34
Abstract:
Nanoparticle-treated substrates, such as screens, sand beds or proppant beds, may effectively filter and purify fluids such as waste water or fluids produced from a formation, as well as other liquids. When tiny contaminant particles in a fluid such as waste water flow contact the nanoparticle-treated substrate, the nanoparticles will capture and hold the tiny contaminant particles on the substrate due to the nanoparticles' surface forces, including, but not necessarily limited to van der Waals and electrostatic forces or other associative forces. Coating agents such as alcohols, glycols, polyols, vegetable oil, and mineral oils may help apply the nanoparticles to the surfaces of structures in the filter beds or packs.