Using cesium and potassium formates in completion fluids that stabilize boreholes in gas production is more eco-efficient than the application of brines based on zinc bromide, calcium bromide and calcium chloride. This is the result of an eco-efficiency analysis performed by BASF. Formates are salts of formic acid, a BASF intermediate. The scientific study compared which of the products is better suited from the economic and ecological point of view to be used in completion fluids for stabilizing boreholes. In a life-cycle assessment, formates outperformed the bromides named above as well as calcium chloride as a lower-cost, environmentally more benign alternative. Formates achieved superior results also with respect to waste disposal: while waste bromide brine needs to be disposed of at considerable cost, formate brines are biologically degradable, which allows on-site disposal. Completion fluids are used in gas production after the initial drilling operation to stabilize the well. Pressure in the well may exceed 1,000 bar. Special-purpose liquids are used to balance this pressure to prevent uncontrolled blowout of water or gas and a breakdown of the well bore. To achieve this the fluid must be of exceptionally high density – water-soluble salts like potassium and cesium formates have this density.
BASF strengthens R&D with more powerful supercomputer
BASF has started up a new supercomputer at its Ludwigshafen site to replace the existing one. With 3 petaflops of computing power, the new supercomputer is considerably more powerful than its 1.75 petaflop predecessor. “Digital technologies are among the most important instruments to furthe ... more
Chemovator, the business incubator of BASF, opens its doors for startups outside of the company
For five years, Chemovator has been working under the umbrella of BASF to develop scalable and investable business models from ideas that originated from within the company. As of now, the incubator opens its doors to all early-stage startups working on the successful and sustainable future ... more
BASF starts 2023 better than expected in a stagnating environment
“BASF started off 2023 better than analysts had expected – and in a stagnating and difficult economic environment,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. The BASF businesses with customers in the agricultural and automotive sectors made a sub ... more
Industrial implementation of the ammonia synthesis - How does it work?
In September 1913, the first industrial-scale ammonia production plant came on stream at BASF in Ludwigshafen. The Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, which was first successfully operated at BASF Ludwigshafen in September 1913, was the decisive step into the age of mineral fertilize ... more
BASF-YPC Company Limited is a large scale petrochemical 50:50 joint venture between BASF and Sinopec. With a total investment amounting to USD 2.9 billion, its IPS (Integrated Petrochemical Site) I Project was started in September 2001 and put into commercial operation in June 2005. Our mis ... more
BASF Construction Solutions GmbH
BASF Construction Polymers GmbH, Trostberg, Germany, is a leading innovator and producer of construction and oilfield polymers. Our product portfolio for construction chemicals consists of superplasticizers, dispersants, plasticizers, rheology modifying agents, stabilizers, defoamers and ai ... more
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. more
