Momentive Performance Materials Helps Oil Industry Explore in New Areas with Launch of Silbreak* 638 Silicone Demulsifier

New product boosts the performance of demulsifier formulations while offering environmentally friendly characteristics

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY — OCTOBER 7, 2008 - Momentive Performance Materials today introduced Silbreak* 638 Silicone Demulsifier, a new material that enhances the oil demulsification process, making exploration feasible in conditions once thought to be technically and environmentally too demanding.

Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier may be highly effective in controlling foam in gas oil separators. The material is non-toxic and degrades easily in sea water, making it an attractive alternative to less environmentally friendly products now being used in the oil industry.

Silbreak demulsifiers represent a novel class of hybrid demulsifiers that combine the unusually high surface activity of silicone materials with the emulsion destabilising activity of organic groups. Silbreak demulsifiers may be particularly active in heavy crude or upgraded crude at low dosage levels. When formulated together with organic demulsifiers, they may be able to efficiently separate water from crude at lower temperatures, produce clean water and reduce residual BSW in the crude to less than the required specification levels at a lower overall cost.

“Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier can play a strategic role in helping oil exploration companies meet growing worldwide demand,” said Kostas Spyropoulos, Global Marketing Manager at Momentive Performance Materials, for this product. “By efficiently breaking water-in-oil emulsions and controlling foam in oil-based systems, Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier enhances the recovery process while addressing environmental concerns.”

The new silicone demulsifier may be effective in harsh conditions such as in oil sands, deep-sea fields and in areas where the crude is heavy or acidic. It remains liquid at extreme temperatures making it easy to handle in cold conditions.

Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier is based on a modified polydimethylsiloxane that contains no halogens. Because of its high molecular weight, Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier is expected to be non-bioaccumulating.

To find out more about Silbreak 638 Silicone Demulsifier, please send an email to
cs-eur.silicones@momentive.com or call +31 (0)164 225350 or visit www.momentive.com.

About Momentive Performance Materials
Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a premier specialty materials company, providing high-technology materials solutions to the silicones, quartz and ceramics markets. The company, as a global leader with worldwide operations, has a robust product portfolio, an enduring tradition of service excellence, and industry-leading research and development capabilities. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is controlled by an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. Additional information is available at www.momentive.com.

*Silbreak is a trademark of Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

PR-Contact Europe, Middle East, Africa & India
Robert Scheib
robert.scheib@momentive.com
+49 214 304 0532

PR-Contact Americas/Canada
Nancy Pitts
nancy.pitts@momentive.com
+1 203 761 1938

PR-Contact Asia/Pacific (Japan, Korea, South East Asia, Australia)
Yoshiko Matsuda
Yoshiko.Matsuda@momentive.com
+81 3 5544 3092

PR-Contact Asia/Pacific (Greater China)
Joyce Sun
Joyce.Sun@momentive.com
+86 21 3860 4706

PR-Agency Europe, Middle East, Africa & India
EMG, Brigitta de Vries
bdevries@emg.nl
+31 164 317 020

PR-Agency Asia/Pacific (Japan, Korea, South East Asia, Australia)
Tokyo PR, Mitsuyoshi Sugino
sugino@tokyopr.co.jp
+81 3 3273 2731

PR-Agency Asia/Pacific (Greater China)
Fortune China Public Relations Ltd., Ren Yi
Yi.ren@fortunechina.com.cn
+86 21 6289 5658 – 22

This release was published on openPR.