Abstract: Disclosed herein are well treatment composition and methods. In a specific embodiment, a well treatment composition includes: denatured algae, where the denatured algae have a protein content from about 20.0 wt % to about 90.0 wt %, and where the denatured algae have a lipid content from about 0.1 wt % to about 30.0 wt %; one or more carrier fluids; and one or more additives. In another specific embodiment, a method of making a well treatment composition can include contacting one or more algae with one or more denaturants to make a denatured algae, where the denatured algae have a protein content from about 20.0 wt % to about 90.0 wt %, and where the denatured algae have a lipid content from about 0.1 wt % to about 30.0 wt %; and contacting the denatured algae with one or more carrier fluids to make a well treatment composition.

Abstract: Proteinaceous enhanced oil recovery operates on the principle that proteins can be denatured using chemicals to break them down into a viscous polymeric mixture that exhibits an EOR effect. In one or more embodiments, the proteins in question are sourced from an algae (spirulina) meal, which could be obtained as a waste product from wastewater treatment or bioprocessing operations, including biofuel production where the lipids are extracted for fuel but the large volumes of proteins are considered a waste material with little or negative value. In other embodiments, other biomasses are used, especially edible biomasses, thereby mitigating public resistance to drilling operations due to concerns of perceived toxicity of chemicals. This also mitigates legal liability from the use of chemicals that are known to be toxic. Additionally, the agents are denatured biomasses that have not undergone expensive purification or separation steps. This will make these agents highly cost competitive.