University of Pittsburgh

General Electric Company

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Energy

Robert Michael Enick

Robert James Perry

Eric John Beckman

Jason Jiwoo Lee

Michael Joseph O'Brien

Mark Daniel Doherty

Dustin Crandall

Deepak Tapriyal

Angela Goodman Hanson

A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation includes injecting into the subterranean formation a composition including carbon dioxide and at least one carbon-dioxide-soluble compound under conditions favorable to diffusion into and adsorption of the carbon-dioxide-soluble compound on the subterranean formation so that oil-wettability is decreased or water wettability or CO-philicity is increased in at least a portion the subterranean formation.

Method of oil recovery using compositions of carbon dioxide and compounds to increase carbon dioxide wettability of formations

A method of treating a material to achieve at least one of reducing surface wettability of the material or reducing fluid transport through the material includes exposing the material to a composition including a solution of a polymer portion and carbon dioxide for a period of time. The polymer portion includes at least one of a polyfluoroacrylate or a copolymer of a fluoroacrylate and a comonomer. A pressure of the composition is maintained above the cloud point of the polymer portion at a concentration thereof in the carbon dioxide for the period of time.

Carbon dioxide and polymer compositions for permeability control and sealing

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.

Thickening compositions, and related materials and processes

A system for recovery of metals from solutions containing dissolved metals. The system includes an apparatus and method for placing supercritical carbon dioxide that contains an extractant in contact with the solution and agitating the two resulting phases. Once the metals are extracted by the extractant, they can be removed from the carbon dioxide phase by depressurization or by reduction by exposure to hydrogen. The extractant preferably comprises a metal binding group, a spacer group and a C0,-philic group.

System for recovery of metals from solutions thereof

A method for coating a metal surface, comprising: applying a solution comprising an amide thiol compound and a solvent to a metal surface, allowing the thiol compound to self assemble on the surface, and removing excess thiol compound from the surface. The amide thiol compound is preferably a fluoralkyl amide thiol and more preferably one having the general formula F(CF,),CONH(CH,),SH, where n and m are each 2-20. The solution can be sprayed onto the metal surface, or the metal surface can be dipped into the solution. The surface should be kept wet for a time period sufficient to allow the thiol molecules to self assemble on the metal surface.

Method and composition for surface treatment of metals

A method for increasing the viscosity of CO.sub.2 comprising the steps of: mixing semi-fluorinated alkane and liquid CO.sub.2 ; and venting CO.sub.2 vapor from the liquid CO.sub.2 until the liquid CO.sub.2 becomes supersaturated. A gel that comprises a semi-fluorinated alkane; and liquid CO.sub.2. The semi-fluorinated alkane is of the form (F.sub.3 C)--(CF.sub.2).sub.N-1-(CH.sub.2).sub.M-1 -(CH.sub.3).

Growing community of inventors

Bethel Park, PA, United States of America

Robert Michael Enick