Jaxon Caines, technology reporter, Hart Energy: Why does size matter? Well, because in the oil field, you want to enhance both oil mobility and recovery. When a biosurfactant is smaller, it can move faster. And Locus Bio-Energy's portfolio features biosurfactant products that are 3.1 nanometers. So what does that mean for enhanced oil mobility?
Megan Pearl, vice president of technology, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions: The nanometer size of our biosurfactants means that they are physically able to touch rock and access oil that conventional chemistries can't. They can get into the tiniest of nano fractures and smallest nano pores, ultimately leading to more oil produced. But it also means that they're able to penetrate, disperse and suspend complex molecular structures, meaning that those particles are not going to block flow in any parts of the reservoir. And the surfactants from Locus may be small, but they're mighty, since they're packed with as many chemical components as possible to impact each stage in oil production and maximize recovery from the rock through the fracture, through the fluids and then to the surface.
JC: But it's not enough to enhance oil mobility. You have to maintain oil integrity, but one chemistry doesn't fit all. Chemicals that are used are highly dependent on optimizing the chemical dosage for your selection. Multifunctional, enhanced bio surfactant technology outperforms conventional acidizing solver packers and tackles key challenges in wellbore remediation in a single, sustainable chemical package.
Every Tuesday we drill into the tech that fuels the oil patch. Be the first to watch it with our E&P weekly newsletter.
Recommended Reading
Jefferies: With Permian Locked Up, E&Ps Hunt for New L48 Runway
2024-11-26 - With the core of the Permian Basin largely locked up, “intrepid operators” are hunting for runway in more nascent Lower 48 basins and in less developed Permian benches.
Shale Outlook Uinta: Horizontal Boom to Continue in 2025
2025-01-11 - After two large-scale transactions by SM Energy and Ovintiv, the Uinta Basin is ready for development—and stacked pay exploration.
Permian to Drive Output Growth as Other Basins Flatten, Decline–EIA
2025-01-14 - Lower 48 oil production from outside the Permian Basin—namely, the Bakken and Eagle Ford shales—is expected to flatten and decline in coming years, per new EIA forecasts.
Shale Outlook Eagle Ford: Sustaining the Long Plateau in South Texas
2025-01-08 - The Eagle Ford lacks the growth profile of the Permian Basin, but thoughtful M&A and refrac projects are extending operator inventories.
Exxon: Longer Laterals, Cube Well Design Lowering Permian Costs
2024-12-11 - Exxon Mobil is boosting spending to grow global oil and gas production by 18% by 2030. U.S. rival Chevron Corp. recently said it’s cutting spending in favor of free cash flow.
Comments
Add new comment
This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team.