Tracerco, part of the FTSE 100 company Johnson Matthey, has enhanced its patented hydrocarbon frac flow measurement technology through development of a new biodegradable solvent delivery system. The improvement eliminates the requirement to use any mineral solvent as part of technology application with zero detrimental performance effect.

Paul Hewitt, Tracerco’s Business Director for Reservoir Services worldwide said: “Although chemical quantities used in our smart tracer delivery systems are very small, the equivalent of one teaspoon in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, our goal is to eliminate environmentally persistent chemicals from our technology.

The Tracerco R&D team focused attention in this area and developed a chemical delivery formula using a plant extract that forms an emulsion and carries our range of smart tracers. The mixture is added during frac operations to each stage, the natural fluid then degrades within the formation leaving the tracer to flow with oil from the wellbore.”

Tags: Tracerco