Excel or Routine Podcast | Ali Telmadarreie (CNERGREEN) on Nanoparticle-Stabilized Foams

In this episode of the Excel or Routine Podcast, I sit down with Ali Telmadarreie, founder of CNERGREEN, to discuss the science, field reality, and business journey behind nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foams for EOR, conformance control, and CCUS.

To contact Ali: ali.telmadarreie@cnergreen.ca

Ali shares his path from academia and research to field deployment and entrepreneurship, explaining what triggered the creation of CNERGREEN and how the company’s mission has evolved to address real operational and decarbonization challenges in mature reservoirs.

We discuss when foam makes sense, what differentiates ArmorFoam™ from conventional foams, how to design reliable pilots, define success with the right KPIs, and why CO₂ foam can play a role in low-carbon barrels despite its perceived complexity.

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Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome
Introduction of Ali Telmadarreie and the topic of foam stabilization for EOR.

00:45 – Background: From Academia to Startup
Ali explains his PhD background and early research on CO₂ foams and polymers.

02:10 – Birth of SynerGreen & Nanoparticle Foam Concept
How nanoparticle-stabilized foam was discovered and led to founding the company.

04:00 – Researcher vs Entrepreneur: A Different Life
Key differences between academic research and running a startup as CEO.

05:20 – SynerGreen’s Core Mission
Lowering carbon intensity while improving oil recovery using advanced fluids.

06:30 – What the Industry Underestimates About CO₂ Foams
Why operational deployment matters more than foam formulation alone.

08:40 – From Lab to Field: Early Surprises
How foam behavior changes between lab tests and real reservoirs.

10:20 – Fine-Tuning Foam Formulations
Adjusting nanoparticles, surfactants, and chemistry for each reservoir.

12:00 – Convincing Operators Beyond the “Nano” Buzzword
Building trust through lab benchmarks, pilots, and field demonstrations.

14:00 – Ideal Reservoir & Operational Conditions
Where foam works best and where its limitations appear.

16:00 – Treatment vs Continuous Injection Strategy
Why SynerGreen uses staged foam treatments instead of continuous injection.

18:10 – Surfactant Selection & Custom Formulation
How surfactants and additives are screened and tailored per client.

20:20 – Controlling Foam Stability & Breakability
Designing foams that persist—or collapse—depending on operational needs.

22:10 – Designing Pilot Volumes & Injection Schedules
How pilot size and timing are determined without reliable foam simulators.

24:30 – Typical Chemical Concentrations Used
Why total chemical loading remains below 1% in most applications.

25:40 – Biggest Challenge: Scaling & Adoption Speed
Why slow technology adoption is harder than technical barriers.

26:50 – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Incremental oil, pressure response, gas utilization, and conformance control.

28:40 – How ArmorFoam Works (Conceptual Model)
Blocking high-permeability paths to redirect flow into unswept zones.

30:30 – Foam Viscosity & Apparent Resistance
How foam viscosity is designed based on permeability and injectivity.

32:00 – Why ArmorFoam Resists Oil Breakdown
Nanoparticle “armoring” versus conventional surfactant foams.

33:30 – Field Deployment & Logistics
Simple surface equipment and minimal operational complexity.

35:10 – Pilot Results: Incremental Oil & CO₂ Savings
Real field data showing oil gains and reduced CO₂ injection.

36:40 – Interpreting Pressure vs Oil Response
Why pressure increase does not always correlate with oil recovery.

39:00 – Can Foam Be a Displacement Agent?
Why economics favor conformance control over full displacement.

41:50 – Chevron Technology Ventures Validation
How Chevron’s support accelerated credibility and execution.

44:00 – Is Foam Too Risky? Managing Operational Risk
Why doing nothing is often riskier than controlled foam deployment.

45:40 – What’s Next: From Pilots to Field-Scale Rollout
Scaling the technology across multiple wells and full fields.

47:00 – Advice for Researchers Becoming Entrepreneurs
Why fundamentals, field understanding, and business mindset matter.

48:40 – Lessons Learned & What He’d Do Differently
The importance of earlier and deeper operator engagement.

50:00 – Pride, Team Building & Motivation
What keeps Ali motivated and engaged daily.

51:15 – Final Advice & Closing Thoughts
Why entrepreneurship is hard—but worth the journey.

52:15 – Wrap-Up & Farewell
Closing remarks and future outlook.