The use of CO₂ is attractive as a solvent from an environmental perspective. However, in its native state, it is not very cost effective as a process fluid or solvent. Through the addition of additives, the effectiveness of CO₂ can be substantially enhanced. Dr. Eric Beckman and Dr. Robert Enick have invented techniques to gel carbon dioxide which have resulted in exciting opportunities for use in oil and gas well operations. In addition, the techniques currently under development require less expensive, non-flourinated compounds, which reduces the cost while encouraging an environmentally attractive process.

The potential applications for this unique development include:

• Thickened CO₂ to enhance the tertiary recovery of petroleum from aging oil fields.

  • Because of the viscosity of "natural CO₂", the fluid dispersion in a reservoir is difficult to control. Increasing the viscosity of the CO₂ offers the potential to significantly improve the well stimulation.
  • Since the CO₂ is environmentally benign, thickened CO₂ is very attractive for reducing the environmental impact of well stimulation procedures.
• The CO₂ gels produced can be precursors to microcellular materials, and could also support CO₂-based coating procedures

Currently, researchers are focusing their efforts on the utilization of these technologies for environmentally benign gas and oil well operations.

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A program of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center