Kemira Takes its Innovations to the Oil Industry 

Kemira’s water business has established itself as a leading developer of flocculants and coagulants. Utilizing these approaches to solid-liquid separation in the world’s oil fields has proven more difficult: while conventional flocculation methods can be applied to water-continuous waste, oil-continuous waste streams present a different challenge.

Developing flocculants that would enable the reuse of the liquid base in oil-based fluids has consequently become a focus for Kemira’s oil business.

Several years ago, an international oilfield service firm approached Kemira to develop a solid-liquid separation method for oil-based drilling muds. Kemira’s researchers and field engineers took on the project and developed a patented technology for exclusive use by the oilfield service firm.

The resulting invention leads to better drilling rates, diminished amounts of waste, and lower costs. Additionally, the technology allows for the recycling of more materials from the original muds.

 - We developed this concept of using flocculants in a different physical form, so that they cause aggregation in an oil-continuous medium. And that conceptual flip is what allowed us to get a patent, says Ray Farinato from Kemira’s research and development function.

According to Henry Masias, Kemira’s Technical Manager who oversees its oil field projects, the technology opens doors for Kemira’s potential applications.

- There are lots of oil beats around the world, and with all those substances it’s very difficult to separate the oil, the solids, and the excess water.

The division collaborates with oil field service companies globally.

Article by Laura Palotie

Kemira's Jorge Adams holds the patent for the invention.