Log in
The University of Liverpool (UoL) has developed novel tamponade agents that are used to treat retinal detachments. These tamponades are modified silicone oils that have an increased extensional viscosity. This makes it easier for vitreoretinal surgeons to inject them into the eye and, experimentally, they have an increased emulsification resistance. The technology has been licenced to Fluoron GmbH, who manufacture these products under the name Siluron® 2000 and Siluron® Xtra. Siluron® 2000 has been on the market worldwide since 2008 and is used to treat retinal detachment patients, providing an impact to health by enhancing their clinical outcomes. Siluron® Xtra was launched in July 2013.
Newcastle University research on biodegraded petroleum systems has had a number of broad reaching impacts on the oil industry (ExxonMobil, Statoil, Woodside, and Shell), related companies (Permedia) and regulators (Alberta Energy Regulator). A new approach to oil viscosity determination was developed, which directs well-placement in biodegraded oilfields to lower viscosity areas, resulting in improved production of heavy oil. Software tools developed to model oil composition have been incorporated into proprietary in-house, oil company reservoir simulations. A spin-out company was founded, Gushor Inc., which provides services to the heavy oil sector and was recently acquired by Schlumberger. Collectively the research from Newcastle University has saved oil companies hundreds of millions of pounds by avoiding poorly producing viscous zones in biodegraded reservoirs.
The data generated from research undertaken by ERPE has enabled BP to leverage an investment of $125M for full field implementation of Lo-Sal® EOR technology in the Clair Ridge Field, west of Shetland.
This research has provided BP with a step change in understanding of how to maximise oil recovery and production. Low Salinity Water Flooding has been shown to increase oil recovery by an average of ~16% when compared to standard "High Salinity" water flooding. Based on this work, BP made a strategic decision in September 2012 to use Low Salinity Water Flooding as their default position for field development, by adopting this significant development in water-flooding technology.
Thermally sensitive polymers are injected into oil reservoirs to increase the recovery of oil. Experimental and theoretical modeling carried out at the BP Institute, University of Cambridge, has led to a new understanding of the behaviour of such polymers and increased their effectiveness in recovering oil, through improved design of the injection, and led to the discovery of a new reservoir monitoring technique to detect their effect on production. Optimising injection of polymer increases well production by over 1000 bbl/day and has generated annual revenues of over $US 300 million. This technology is also being applied to thermal energy storage systems.