Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids by reacting arylalkyl sulfonic acids with olefins. The polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids may be further neutralized with alkalis or amines to form the corresponding sulfonated salts. The present invention also makes possible manufacture of polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids as first intent products using an inexpensive and simple reaction. The structure of the polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids produced using the process described in the present invention is shown below: Where R1, R2 and R3 are each separately and independently H, alkyl (branched or linear C1 to C30), (—CH2CH2O)a, (—CH(CH3)CH2O)b, or (—CH2CH2O)c(—CH2(CH3)CH2O)d, m+n=8 to 28 R4=CH2CH3, CH2CH3Y or Y(CH2)pCH(CH2)qY p+q=0 to 27 a=1 to 30 b=1 to 30 c+d=2 to 30 Y=CH3, COOH, CH2OH, CH2(—CH2CH2O)a, CH2(—CH(CH3)CH2O)b, CH2(—CH2CH2O)c(—CH2(CH3)CH2O)d, aromatic, or substituted aromatic.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing light colored polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids. The polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids may be further neutralized with alkalis or amines to form the corresponding light colored sulfonated salts. The present invention also makes manufacture of polyalkylated arylalkyl sulfonic acids possible as first intent products using an inexpensive and simple reaction.

Abstract: This invention involves a process for recovering oil from a subterranean reservoir where an injection fluid containing one or more primary surfactants of the structure below along with one or more co-surfactants, solvent and optionally a viscosifier and one or more alkalis injected into one or more injection wells and the oil is recovered from one or more producing wells. where: Ar=any aromatic moiety, M=H, Na, K, Ca, Mg, NH4, or an amine, m+n=10 to 28, R, R?, R?=separately and independently H, CH3, branched alkyl having 2-30 carbons, linear alkyl having 2-30 carbons, CH3(CH2)mCH(CH2)nSO3M, O(CH2CH2O)xH, O(CHCH3CH2O)xH, or O(CH2CH2O)aO(CHCH3CH2O)bH, x=1 to 30, y=1 to 30, a+b=1 to 30. The primary surfactant may be prepared in the acid form at one location and shipped as a neat product to be formulated into the final injection brine at or near the point of injection.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil by injecting into a subterranean oil-bearing reservoir through one or more injection wells, an aqueous solution containing one or more amphoteric alkyl amido betaine surfactants that form a viscoelastic gel reducing interfacial tension and increasing the viscosity of the injection fluid simultaneously, displacing the solution into the reservoir, and recovering the oil from one or more production wells. These viscoelastic gels are tolerant to electrolytes and multivalent cations. They are shear reversible and adsorbed little onto the reservoir. Their viscosity is reduced when contacting certain hydrocarbons but remains high when contacting water or brine. This allows the fluid to preferentially penetrate the oil-bearing portions of the formation and resulting additional oil recovery.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil or contaminants from subterranean reservoirs using a surfactant system where an adsorption reducing agent is injected before, after, and/or with the surfactant system. The adsorption reducing agent is formed by the reaction of an olefin sulfonic acid and phenol/aldehyde resin, the structure which is shown below where M may be Hydrogen or any cation, R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, etc., X is methylene or other aldehyde derived bridge, Y is hydrogen, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures of two or more of these, x+y is greater than 2 and n is equal or greater than 1.

Abstract: An improved concentrated surfactant formulation and process for the recovery of residual oil from subterranean petroleum reservoirs, and more particularly an improved alkali surfactant flooding process which results in ultra-low interfacial tensions between the injected material and the residual oil, wherein the concentrated surfactant formulation is supplied at a concentration above, at, or, below its CMC, also providing in situ formation of surface active material formed from the reaction of naturally occurring organic acidic components with the injected alkali material which serves to increase the efficiency of oil recovery.