Investigating hagfish slime as a model for improved oilfield fluids

水力压裂是一种技术，它通过在高压下注入流体在岩层中产生裂缝，并用沙子等固体颗粒支撑裂缝打开。水力压裂依赖于注入具有特定物理性质的流体，包括在输送过程中悬浮沙子的能力，以及在沙子就位后释放沙子的能力。目前用于水力压裂的油田流体可能价格昂贵、有毒，或两者兼而有之，因此需要开发更便宜、更环保的新材料。Fusion Technologies Inc.一直在积极寻找能够帮助他们满足这一需求的创新方法，该项目将把Fusion与致力于天然生物材料的研究人员联系起来，这可能会激励这些新产品的开发。这里提出的研究将 在设计更有效的油田流体的背景下，研究鳗鱼泥的物理性质。成功的合作最终将使Fusion能够开发新的产品，这些产品可以销售给加拿大、美国和世界各地的石油和天然气行业。

Hydraulic fracturing is a technique that involves creating cracks in rock formations by injecting fluids under high pressure, and propping the cracks open with solid particles such as sand. Hydraulic fracturing relies on the injection of fluids with specific physical properties, including an ability to suspend sand during delivery, but also an ability to let go of the sand once it is in place. Oilfield fluids currently used for hydraulic fracturing can be expensive, toxic, or both, and there is therefore a need to develop new materials that are cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Fusion Technologies Inc. has been actively searching for innovative approaches that could help them fill this need, and this project will connect Fusion with researchers working on natural biomaterials that could inspire the development of these new products. The research proposed here will investigate the physical properties of hagfish slime in the context of designing more effective oilfield fluids. A successful collaboration will ultimately allow Fusion to develop new products that they can sell to the oil and gas industries in Canada, the US, and around the world.