University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Peter Schexnayder

Asadollah Hayatdavoudi

William Chirdon

Garrett Thibodeaux

Gordon Guillory

Nicholas Baudoin

Proteinaceous enhanced oil recovery operates on the principle that proteins can be denatured using chemicals to break them down into a viscous polymeric mixture that exhibits an EOR effect. In one or more embodiments, the proteins in question are sourced from an algae () meal, which could be obtained as a waste product from wastewater treatment or bioprocessing operations, including biofuel production where the lipids are extracted for fuel but the large volumes of proteins are considered a waste material with little or negative value. In other embodiments, other biomasses are used, especially edible biomasses, thereby mitigating public resistance to drilling operations due to concerns of perceived toxicity of chemicals. This also mitigates legal liability from the use of chemicals that are known to be toxic. Additionally, the agents are denatured biomasses that have not undergone expensive purification or separation steps. This will make these agents highly cost competitive. And, because there is no separation or purification, there are no wastes or byproducts from the synthesis to be disposed of. This also reduces costs compared to competitors.

Sustainable agents for enhanced oil recovery and drilling additives derived from microbial biomass

GSH Dry Lubricant Additive is, chemically, magnesium aluminum silicate. It is a clay rich in titanium, magnesium, and aluminum. As an inanimate object, it does not 'function' per se, but rather its properties are as such that it is highly beneficial to the drilling industry. It has a naturally high lubricity, a high stall torque, high gel strength, but a low plastic viscosity. This means that it effectively cools the bit while drilling, reduces friction in the system, supports cuttings better, but is easier to break out of a static gel strength than traditional engineered muds. Finally, as a high suspendability, low solids content material, it acts as a natural gel-state cement for unconsolidated LCM particles, effectively strengthening the wellbore.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Peter Schexnayder