Rhodia is a global speciality chemicals company recognised for its strong technology positions in applications chemistry, speciality materials and services and fine chemicals. Partnering with major players in the oil field, as well as the automotive, electronics, fibres, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tyres, and paints and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers’ needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of sustainable development, communicating its commitments and performance openly with sta keholders. Rhodia generated net sales of US$5.4 billion in 2003, employs 23,000 people worldwide and is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.
Rhodia is one of the very few major multinational speciality chemical companies that offers active and formulated products for use across the entire spectrum of oil field chemical applications. Within its portfolio, Rhodia supplies products to oil field service companies specialising in well construction (drilling and cementing), stimulation (fracturing and acidising) and oil and gas production. As a primary producer of active ingredients, Rhodia offers not only an extensive product range but also the research and development (R&D) capability to develop products for specific applications in collaboration with its key customers. The R&D centres that undertake this collaborative work are located at Aubervilliers in Paris (France), Cranbury in New Jersey (US) and Oldbury in Birmingham (UK). These capabilities are further enhanced and supported through Rhodia’s extensive commercial facilities in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR) (CIS) and the Americas.
From a product perspective, Rhodia has substantial strengths related to the oil and gas industry in surfactant chemistry, hydrocolloid chemistry, phosphorus- containing products and speciality polymers including latex compositions. Looking more closely at the individual oil field sector requirements, Rhodia’s capabilities can be summarised as follows.
Drilling
Within this sector Rhodia supplies hydrocolloid viscosifiers based on xanthan gum and succinoglycan, which are sold under the Rhodopol and Rheozan trademarks.
Rhodia also offers a broad range of corrosion inhibitors, friction reducers, emulsifiers, wetting agents and antifoams for the drilling sector. The corrosion inhibitors include phosphate esters, quaternary ammonium salts and amides and are sold under the Rhodafac, Rhodaquat and Stannine tradenames.
Cementing
As a major producer of polyamides, Rhodia polyamide fibre is supplied to the industry under the Nylstar trademark. Speciality latexes, which utilise the Rhoximat tradename, are supplied for fluid loss control properties, among others. Rhodia also offers both silicone- and organic-based foam control products sold as Rhodorsil and Rhodoline.
