Nanotechnology

From Wikimarcellus

Nanotechnology-based drilling fluids are a newly patented, largely untested technique for utilizing nanoparticles that are virtually the same size as the pores in the shales being drilled. These particles plug up the pores and make them impervious to water thereby reducing water invasion. The patents were developed by Professor Mukul Sharma in the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at University of Texas. The patents were licensed by M-I SWACO, the world's largest supplier of drilling fluids s, during the Fall of 2009.

There were no known example of using nanotechnology in the Marcellus shale as of December, 2009.