General Electric Company

Jason Jiwoo Lee

Robert James Perry

Robert Michael Enick

Michael Joseph O'Brien

Eric John Beckman

Mark Daniel Doherty

Methods for fracking, particularly dry fracking, comprising the use of surfactants for preparation of substantially water-free carbon dioxide in oil foams are presented.

Method of fracking using silicone surfactants

A compound represented by the following formula is provided:  Also provided is a solution including a compound disclosed herein, a volume of dense carbon dioxide (CO), and a co-solvent, where the solution has an increased viscosity greater than the viscosity of dense CO. Methods of increasing the viscosity of dense COand natural gas liquids (NGLs) by, for example, dissolving a compound disclosed herein to form a solution, are also provided.

Compositions for, solutions for, and methods of use of siloxane based aromatic trisureas as viscosifiers

A silicone polymer is provided, modified with at least one functional group from the class of anthraquinone amide groups; anthraquinone sulfonamide groups; thioxanthone amide groups; or thioxanthone sulfone amide groups. The polymer can be combined with a hydrocarbon solvent or with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO), and is very effective for increasing the viscosity of either medium. A process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean, oil-bearing formation is also described, using supercritical carbon dioxide modified with the functionalized silicone polymer. A process for extracting natural gas or oil from a bedrock-shale formation is also described, again using the modified silicone polymer.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Jason Jiwoo Lee