In recent tests, a technology developed for algae harvesting has shown promise in reclaiming hydraulic fracturing flowback water

Los Angeles, CA - 18 April, 2012 - OriginOil, Inc. (OTC/BB: OOIL), developer of breakthrough technology to convert algae into renewable crude oil, announced today that a breakthrough chemical-free process developed for algae harvesting may also help clean up the water produced in oil well water flooding and hydraulic fracturing.

Using a lab prototype of the technology, OriginOil researchers have been able to clarify samples of flowback water from a Texas oil well carrying heavy concentrations of dissolved organics, known as frac flowback. In this photo, the heavy concentration of petroleum in the oil well water samples was easily separated from water and floated to the surface for removal.

The petroleum industry uses large quantities of water to help fracture or "frac" rock formations deep underground to release more oil and gas. According to the energy industry resource Platts, the global hydraulic fracturing market grew 63 percent from $19 billion in 2010 to $31 billion in 2011, and is projected to rise a further 19 percent in 2012.
"Our research team has learned that extracting petroleum and contaminants from water is very much like extracting algae," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO. "They are both very hard to remove without using chemicals and heavy machinery. Our innovative chemical-free, high flow and low-energy process holds promise for the billions of gallons of water used daily in the oil and gas industry worldwide."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for every barrel of oil produced globally, an average of three barrels of contaminated water is produced. In the United States, the water to oil ratio (WOR) averages seven barrels of water to one of oil. In the worst cases, the WOR reaches 50 to 1.

The petroleum must be efficiently reclaimed from this water, and the water itself must be cleaned. Greentech Media reports that energy companies pay between $3 - $12 to dispose of each barrel of produced water, implying a potential world market value between $300 billion and $1 trillion per year.

"It seems that in addition to helping create the renewable energy market of the future, we may add value to a massive existing energy market," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil's CEO. "We will continue to investigate and report on this promising new application of our technology."

About OriginOil, Inc.
OriginOil helps algae growers extract oil from algae for use as a feedstock for the commercial production of transportation fuels, chemicals and foods. In a single step, our breakthrough technology efficiently dewaters and breaks down algae for its useful products, overcoming one of the greatest challenges in making algae a viable replacement for petroleum. As an emerging leader in the global algae oil services field, OriginOil supports its core algae extraction technology with an array of process innovations for some of the world's most successful algae growers and refiners, just as pioneers like Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes have done in the oilfield services industry. To learn more about OriginOil®, please visit our website at www.originoil.com.